Recreational Value of Vembanad Lake in Kerala Using Individual Travel Cost Method
Recreational Value of Vembanad Lake in Kerala Using Individual Travel Cost Method
Date
2020
Authors
Chandrasekar, V.
Gopal, S. Murali
Vidhyavathi, A.
Jayanthi, C.
Sathy, R.
Gopal, Nikita
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences (IJCMAS)
Abstract
The Vembanadlake is the longest lake in India and also the largest wetland ecosystem in
Kerala recognized as a Ramsarwetland site. The lake meanders through three districts of
the state, Alappuzha, Ernakulum and Kottayam. It has been a source of livelihood to the
population living alongside the wetland ecosystem. The economic activity carried in and
around the backwater includes fishing, shrimp farming, clam picking, rice cultivation,
duck rearing and livelihoods related to recreation like etc. Backwater tourism is a major
revenue generation activity for the community by means of house boats, motor boats,
shikara boat, speed boat etc. Around 1480 boats were operational in the Vembanadlake
which are registered under the Department of Ports, Government of Kerala. The increase
in boats is due to increase in the arrival of both foreign and domestic tourists, the increase
of which over the past decade has risen by 11.69% and 7.07% respectively. In the year
2018, foreign and domestic tourists who visited the Vembanad in the three districts
(Alappuzha, Ernakulum and Kottayam) was approximately 0.63 and 4.48 million
respectively. This paper aimed at measuring the recreation benefits obtained by tourists
visiting the Vembanadlake (and the wetland ecosystem) using travel cost approach. The
model considers number of visit made by the individual per annum as the dependent
variable is and several independent variables such as cost of travel, family income, age,
family size, time spent and quality of the backwater. The analysis was carried out using
trip generating function. The results reveal that, the total recreational value of Vembanad
backwater was 363 billion INR. The potential value of the ecosystem necessitates
sustainable management and conservation of the lake and the backwater ecosystem, which
is being affected by increasing pollution as a result of, ironically, increasing tourist
activities.
Description
Keywords
Recreational value, Estuarine
Citation
Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2020) 9(6): 3280-3291