Estimating the Economic Value of Grassland Tourism Services Based on Mobile Phone Data

This study evaluates the economic value of grassland tourism in Inner Mongolia, China, using mobile phone signaling data to track tourist flows from 333 cities to 103 counties in 2020. A zonal travel cost model, both parametric and non-parametric, was employed. Results indicate the tourism value ranged from 585.9 to 598.4 billion CNY (US $84.9–86.7 billion), about 2.5 times the tourism revenue, constituting 29% of regional GDP. In the absence of COVID-19, the value would have reached 936.5 billion CNY. The study reveals spatial disparities, with grassland quality, infrastructure, and regional development driving tourism value.