Research Note: Attribution,Substitution and Confusion in Wildlife and Natural Area Tourism Expenditure Research

Abstract

This research note addresses the current confusion of terminology and practice among studies of the expenditure of tourists to natural areas and wildlife attractions. The authors suggest that the term ‘substitution’ should be used when estimating tourists' intention to substitute another destination for the study region, should the natural resource in the study region cease to exist. They also discuss the use of the term ‘attribution’ and how the concept of ‘attributable expenditure’ has been applied in natural area and wildlife tourism expenditure research.

Keywords

tourism surveys expenditure wildlife tourism natural area tourism substitution attribution

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