Economic Valuation of Coral Reefs at Mombasa Marine National Park and Reserve, Kenya.

Abstract

Kenya's coral reefs, and the livelihoods and communities they support, face numerous threats including global climate change and a growing coastal human population. A contingent valuation study was conducted with Kenyan citizen and foreign tourists to evaluate the conservation benefits of coral reefs at Mombasa Marine National Park and Reserve (MMNPR), and assess the implications for local reef management. Citizen and foreign visitors to MMNPR were willing to pay an extra US$2.23 and US$7.94 per visit respectively in addition to current Park entrance fees to support reef quality improvements. By aggregating visitors' willingness to pay (WTP) amounts over the number of visitors to MMNPR in 2006-7 the value of benefits were estimated at US$346,163 a year, justifying greater public investment in reef conservation and management on the Kenyan coast. Provided the Park managers could demonstrably improve reef quality, the findings indicate that annual revenues from citizen and foreign visitors may be increased by 39% to US$261,829 through implementing proposed higher entrance fees ofKsh.200 (US$3.08) for citizens and US$15 for visitors. However, any increase would serve to intensify concerns among citizens that only relatively affluent Kenyans are able to afford to visit MMNPR. Through the estimation of an econometric model, citizen and foreign visitors' WTP amounts were found to be influenced by income, age, participation in environmental activities, and whether tourists visited MMNPR on an all-inclusive trip. In addition, foreign visitors' WTP amounts were related to whether they participated in diving or glass bottom boat trips. The implementation of reef awareness and training initiatives at MMNPR are recommended to promote sustainable tourism and increase visitors' WTP for reef conservation.