Economic impact analysis of nature tourism in protected areas: Towards an adaptation to international standards in German protected areas

Economic impact analyses assess the economic effects of nature tourism in protected areas. In international contexts, various studies and monitoring systems employ input-output analyses as a standard methodology, whereas in Germany, studies have traditionally relied on value added analyses. The value added analysis assumes a general 30% indirect value added ratio of the intermediate input effects for all German protected areas and tourism sectors, without accounting for induced consumption effects. This paper aims to enhance the quality and scope of economic impact analyses of nature tourism in German protected areas. For this reason, the input-output analysis is introduced for two German protected area cases: Black Forest Biosphere Reserve and Black Forest National Park. IMPLAN input-output data for the German district level was used. Through input-output analysis, sector-specific and spatial multiplier variations were identified. Notably, the indirect value added ratios estimated for the two cases verify the general 30% ratio, showing a slight deviation of 30.6% for the Black Forest Biosphere Reserve and 29.6% for the Black Forest National Park. The induced consumption effect is slightly higher in the biosphere reserve, with an induced value added ratio of 13.3% compared to 11.1% for the Black Forest National Park region. These findings from input-output analyses provide foundational insights, laying the groundwork for further investigations across diverse regional cases. With a commitment to a standardized and long-term socioeconomic monitoring system built upon reliable and consistent data, this approach has the potential to foster methodological development and international harmonization in economic impact analyses within German protected areas.