Ecotourism demand and differential pricing of national park access in Costa Rica

Ecotourism presents developing countries with growing opportunities for enh ancing resource conservation and economic growth, but also raises pressing management and policy challenges. This paper presents a conceptual framewor k and empirical analysis of the impacts of introducing a differential entra nce fee policy at three national parks in Costa Rica. Data Lire collected u sing a contingent behavior methodology designed to elicit information on fo reign tourists' hypothetical park visitation behaviors at alternative entra nce See levels. Park visitation demand functions and price and income elast icities are estimated. Revenue-maximizing fees are calculated and applicati ons of differential pricing principles to park management are discussed.