Assessing the effects of carbon footprint cost on sport tourists’ recreational benefits

This study examines how the inclusion of carbon footprint costs influences the recreational benefits and pro-environmental behaviors of sport tourism participants. By monetizing participants’ pro-environmental behavior, this study provides a novel contribution to the valuation of environmental impacts in sport tourism. When carbon footprint costs are modeled as an independent variable within the Travel Cost Method framework, estimated recreational benefits increase by approximately NT$23. Despite the additional carbon costs, runners traveling by private car generate recreational benefits that exceed the associated environmental costs, reflecting the presence of an environmental value–action gap.