Estimating the Recreational Demand for Domboshava Hill and Cave Using the Individual Travel Cost Method

The main aim of this study was to investigate the determinants of recreational demand for Domboshava Hill and Cave, estimate the consumer surplus as well as establish the impact of entrance fee on the recreational demand for the site. This study is motivated by the dearth of literature on the subject leading to suboptimal economic policies on the site. The study sought to model the recreational demand function for the site. The Truncated Poisson Regression Methodology was used to investigate factors that determine demand for recreational site visit while the semi-log demand function was used to estimate the demand function for the site, relating number of visits to travel cost, holding all other factors constant. On-site crosssectional data was collected for the period March and April 2018. The findings were consistent with the Individual Travel Cost Model, showing that travel cost, income, mode of transport, household size, marital status and age are important determinants of recreational demand. There is need for the authorities to allocate substantially large budgetary allocations for the preservation of the site given the positive consumer surplus and recreational benefit. There is also need to pursue scientifically based economic policies to guide the site's optimal entrance fee. Future economic decisions have to be based on the economic value of the site.