Jang et al. (2014). Estimation of lost tourism revenue in Geoje Island from the 2011 marine debris
Estimation of lost tourism revenue in Geoje Island from the 2011 marine debris pollution event in South Korea
Yong Chang Jang, Sunwook Hong*, Jongmyoung Lee, Mi Jeong Lee, Won Joon Shim
Following a period of heavy rainfall in July 2011, a large amount of marine debris was washed up on the beaches of Geoje Island, South Korea, affecting the island’s tourism industry. The tourism revenue decreased due to this pollution event and was estimated by multiplying the decreased number of visitors by the average expenditure of visitors to the beaches. Due to the fact that the visitor count at the Island’s beaches decreased from 890,435 in 2010 to 330,207 in 2011 (i.e., a reduction of 560,228 persons, 63%), the tourism revenue loss of the island was estimated to be US$29 – 37 million. This study is one of the few to consider the economic effects of marine debris.
Keywords
Marine debris, Economic effect, Tourism, Pollution, Korea
Citation
Yong Chang Jang, SunwookHong, Jongmyoung Lee, Mi Jeong Lee, Won Joon Shim (2014) Estimation of lost tourism revenue in Geoje Island from the 2011 marine debris pollution event in South Korea. Marine Pollution Bulletin 81(1):49-54