Assessing the impact of biodiversity on tourism flows: an econometric model for tourist behaviour with implications for conservation policy

This analysis provides an example of how biodiversity can be measured by means of different indicators, and how the latter can be used to assess the influence of the biodiversity profile of a region on the tourism flows towards it. Domestic Irish tourist flows have been chosen as a case study. Results show that most of the biodiversity and landscape indicators included in the analysis turn out to be statistically significant in determining tourists’ choices regarding the duration of their trip. As a result, policies pursuing biodiversity conservation appear to have a positive impact on the regional tourism.