Economic Valuation of Recreation at Lengwe National Park in Malawi

Aim: We estimate the recreation value of Lengwe National Park (LNP) in Malawi using the travel cost method (TCM). The TCM is one of the techniques used for estimating economic values of environmental goods and services that do not command a market price such as National Parks.

Study Design: The study adopts a purposive sampling procedure.

Place and Duration: Lengwe National Park, Chikwawa in Southern Malawi. The study was implemented between September and December 2015.

Research Methodology: The study administers about 670 questionnaires to recreationists. The data were subjected to a Travel Cost Analysis to assess the socio-economic factors that affect visitation at Lengwe National Park and to estimate its recreation value.

Results: The study finds an opposite but anticipated relationship between total travelling costs and individual visits per year. On the other hand, we discover direct relationship between individuals` income and visits per year. In this study, an individual average round trip costs approximately MWK92, 440. The individual consumer surplus (recreation value) per visit is MWK81, 037 and the total annual recreation value for Lengwe National Park is MWK94, 003,241.

Conclusion: We conclude that the Travel Cost Method can be used to evaluate recreation sites in Malawi. We find travel costs and income as socioeconomic factors affecting visitation at Lengwe National Park and the total annual recreation value of the park is estimated to be MWK94, 003,241. These results may be used in the management of the park and related areas. We further recommend that management should re-introduce more game and protect the animals to enable the park withstand competition for visitors with other protected areas within Malawi. The study further highlights the need to set entry fees based on the number of days the clients stay in the national park.