RATIONING PREFERENCES AND SPENDING BEHAVIOR OF VISITORS TO A SCARCE RECREATIONAL RESOURCE WITH LIMITED CARRYING-CAPACITY

This paper empirically investigates the factors influencing the prefer ence of a visitor over three rationing systems. The First-Come-First-S erved system is preferred by young, short-distance visitors. A Variabl e Admission Fee system is preferred by visitors of a high household di sposable income, small-sized family, and a lower educational level. An Advanced Reservation system is a risk averse strategy preferred by lo ng-distance visitors, of high educational level, planning to visit man y places in the wider recreational area. The spending behavior of the three groups of visitors according to choice of rationing system diffe rs in quantitative and qualitative terms.