Exploring the Economic Viability of Agro-Ecotourism as a Climate Change Adaptation Measure: A Travel Cost Approach

In this study, we employ the travel cost method to assess the viability of agro-ecotourism in Yuanshan Township, located within the fragile Lanyang River watershed. The local development of agro-ecotourism is the emerging measure that meets forest conservation and soil and water management in steep slopes and viable adaptation strategies in response to the urgent challenges posed by climate change. However, for long-term success, the self-sufficiency and livelihoods of local communities must be prioritized, especially since these communities heavily depend on local resources for their livelihoods. The study site demonstrates the economic success of agro-ecotourism, which allows visitors to utilize local resources and is crucial for boosting the local economy, by applying the travel cost method. This study evaluates the economic value of local natural resources, highlighting that visitor expenditure reflects both recreational resource use and local adaptation measures. The findings indicate significant estimated recreational resource values of TWD 15,748.03 by the negative binomial count data model (1 USD = 31.15 TWD). The results suggest that sustainable local agro-ecotourism measures, balancing conservation and to adapting climate changes, can enhance the economy while supporting residents’ livelihoods in Yuanshan Township.