Using Choice Experiments to Evaluate Destination Attributes: The Case of Snowmobilers and Cross-Country Skiers

• Winter recreation is an important part of the tourism industry for many destinations in Scandinavia, North America, and other regions, with snowmobiling and cross-country skiing being popular winter activities. The snowmobiling market and its economic impact have been evaluated, but assessment of destination attributes and their effect on snowmobile market share is lacking. Cross-country skiing assessments of any type of are almost entirely lacking. Knowledge of these markets and the determinants of consumer choice helps destination development agencies identify, refine, and capitalize on their position within the market. This paper utilizes visitor survey choice experiments (CE) to evaluate how destination attributes affect decisions regarding where to engage in snowmobiling or cross-country skiing. Results are used to assesses the importance of attributes and to estimate how market share varies as destination attributes change. In the process, this analysis evaluates which attributes and attribute levels have the greatest impact on market share, and whether responsiveness to attributes varies across the two groups (snowmobilers and skiers). In addition, demographic and attitudinal variables are modeled to identify subgroups within the snowmobiling market. Lastly, the skier results are used to illustrate a CE approach to measuring the welfare effects of snowmobiler disturbance�and the gains to skiers from reducing that disturbance.

Subject headings

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Ekonomi och näringsliv (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Economics and Business (hsv//eng)

Keyword

choice experiments

destination attributes

market share

willingness-to-pay

snowmobiling

cross-country skiing

Business and economics

Ekonomi

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)