Kuala Kubu Bharu (KKB), located in the northeastern part of Selangor, is a popular ecotourism site among visitors from Klang Valley and the neighbouring states. Visitors participate in several outdoor recreational activities in the surrounding Permanent Forest Estate (PFE) in KKB. The increasing number of tourists visiting KKB has raised the attention of local authorities to justify sustaining the natural recreational resources in KKB. However, the value of the benefits of recreational use of the forest has not been determined. Using the Travel Cost Method (TCM), data from visitors to KKB were collected to estimate the value of the natural recreational resources in KKB using consumer surplus. Based on the total number of visitors to KKB in 2019, the estimated consumer surplus is RM1,179,094.18. On the other hand, the estimated consumer surplus per tourist for each visit to KKB is RM6.38. The estimated consumer surplus per tourist per visit can be applied as the price for conserving the PFE in KKB.
Ahmad, S. (1990). The Travel Cost Model by Marion Clawson, Resources for the Future [Master dissertation, The University of Wyoming]. The University of Wyoming.
Ali, A. H. M., Afandi, S. H. M., Emmy, P. J., Shuib, A., Ramachandran, S., & Samdin, Z. (2018). Assessment of Non Consumptive Wildlife Oriented Tourism in Sukau, Sabah Using Travel Cost Method. International Journal of Business & Society, 19, 47-55.
BERNAMA. (2021). Kuala Kubu Bharu declared as Central Forest Spine area. https://www.bernama.com/en/general/news.php?id=2022367#:%7E:text=KUALA%20KUBU%20BHARU%2C%20Nov%2011,(CFS)%20area%20for%20Selangor.
Ezebilo, E. E. (2016). Economic Value of a Non-Market Ecosystem Service: An Application of The Travel Cost Method to Nature Recreation in Sweden. International Journal of Biodiversity Science, Ecosystem Services & Management, 12(4), 314-327.
Hagerty, D., & Moeltner, K. (2005). Specification of Driving Costs in Models of Recreation Demand. Land Economics, 81(1), 127-143.
Hanauer, M. M., & Reid, J. (2017). Valuing Urban Open Space Using the Travel-Cost Method and The Implications of Measurement Error. Journal of Environmental Management, 198, 50-65.
Johari, S., Ramachandran, S., Shuib, A., & Herman, S. (2015). Participation of The Bidayuh Community in Tourism Developmental Initiatives in Bau, Malaysia. Life Science Journal, 12(2), 46-48.
Matthew, N. K., Ahmad, S., Ramachandran, S., & Syamsul, H. M. A. (2013). Demand Model of International Visitors to The Kilim Karst Geoforest Park, Langkawi: Application of ITCM Model. Journal of Applied Economics and Business, 1(4), 51-66.
Matthew, N. K., Shuib, A., Ramachandran, S., & Afandi, S. H. M. (2015). Travel Cost Adjustment of International Multiple Destination Visitors to The Kilim Karst Geoforest Park, Langkawi, Malaysia. American-Eurasian Journal of Agricultural & Environmental Science, 15, 24-31.
Menendez-Carbo, S., Ruano, M. A., & Zambrano-Monserrate, M. A. (2020). The Economic Value of Malecón 2000 In Guayaquil, Ecuador: An Application of The Travel Cost Method. Tourism Management Perspectives, 36, 100727.
Mohamed, Z., Afandi, S. H. M., Ramachandran, S., Shuib, A., & Kunasekaran, P. (2018). Adventure Tourism in Kampar, Malaysia: Profile and Visit Characteristics of Domestic Visitors. International Journal of Business & Society, 19(SI1), 175-185.
Mtapuri, O., & Giampiccoli, A. (2019). Tourism, community-based tourism and ecotourism: A definitional problematic. South African Geographical Journal, 101(1), 22-35.
Nair, M. B., Ramachandran, S., Shuib, A., Syamsul, H. M. A., & Nair, V. (2012). Multi-Criteria Decision Making Approach for Responsible Tourism Management. Malaysian Forester, 72(2), 135-146.
Nur Syuhada, C., Syamsul, H., & Zaiton, S. (2013). Attributes Motivating Participation in Extreme Recreation at Putrajaya Challenge Park, Malaysia. The Malaysian Forester, 76(1), 51-60.
Razak, N. A., Afandi, S. H. M., Shuib, A., & Ghani, A. N. A. (2018). Visitors Travelling Time Cost for Ecotourism at Matang Mangrove Forest Reserve. International Journal of Business & Society, 19(S1), 117-127.
Siow, M. L., Ramachandran, S., Shuib, A., & Afandi, M. S. H. (2014). Malaysia’s National Ecotourism Plan from A Semiotic Perspective. Malaysian Forester, 77(2), 121-138.
Syamsul, H., Ahmad, S., Ramachandran, S., & Rusli, Y. (2012). Valuing the Recreational Benefit of Cross-Border Shopping at Wang Kelian Sunday Market, Perlis, Malaysia. Malaysian Forester, 75(2), 189-196.
Syamsul, H., Samdin, Z., & bin Shuib, A. (2013). Review of Valuation from A Non?Market Perspective: Travel Cost Method for Rural Tourism. Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes, 5(4), 329-341.
Syamsul, H., Shuib, A., Sridar, R., & Yacob, M. R. (2013). Recreational Economic Value of The Perlis State Park, Malaysia: An Application of Zonal Travel Cost Model. Pertanika Journal of Tropical Agricultural Science, 36(S), 295-310.
Tourism Selangor. (2019). Selangor Domestic and International Tourist Statistics 2018. https://selangor.travel/selangor-domestic-and-international-tourist-statistics-2018/
Wei, C., Shuib, A., Ramachand, S., & Herman, S. (2013). Applicability of economic models in estimating tourism impacts. Journal of Applied Economics and Business, 1(4), 5-16.
