2005 (Duffield et al., 2006). Due to the presence of wolves, visitation
was found to be about 3.7% higher than it would be in their
absence. Additional non-local visitor spending attributed directly to
the presence of wolves in the Park was estimated to be þ$35.5
million. This estimate was not found to be statistically different
from predictions of changes in visitor spending due to the presence
of wolves in the Park, estimated prior to reintroduction (Duffield
et al., 2006).
Input-output models provide a useful tool to approximate the
change in economic impacts associated with a proposed management
decision that affects visitation to Yellowstone National Park.
An estimate of the change in visitation associated with the management
action is needed, which can be based on professional
judgment, or elicited through visitor surveys. The change in
employment and income resulting from the change in visitation
can be attributed to the management decision that spurs the
change in visitation. Our study is the first to our knowledge to estimate
the economic impacts of visitor spending attributed directly
to the recreational activity of roadside bear viewing within Yellowstone
National Park. Thus, it provides an important contribution
to the growing body of literature focused on quantifying the
regional economic impacts of wildlife viewing in particular.