Comparing willingness-to-pay between residents and non-residents using a contingent valuation method: case of the Grand Canal in China

Residents' willingness-to-pay (WTP) for preserving China's UNESCO-listed Grand Canal significantly exceeds that of non-residents, with key differences in how place identity and revisit intention influence their economic valuation. Using a contingent valuation method applied to tourist surveys conducted between April and May 2015, researchers found that while both groups value the Canal's cultural heritage, residents attach stronger emotional and long-term ties to it. Logit models revealed distinct factors driving WTP, underscoring divergent stakeholder perspectives on heritage conservation. The study highlights the economic disparity in heritage appreciation between local communities and tourists, with implications for sustainable tourism policies.

Ji, S., Choi, Y., Lee, C.-K., & Mjelde, J. W. (2017). Comparing willingness-to-pay between residents and non-residents using a contingent valuation method: case of the Grand Canal in China. Asia Pacific Journal of Tourism Research, 23(1), 79–91. https://doi.org/10.1080/10941665.2017.1399919