DETERMINATION OF ECONOMICAL VALUE OF IDA MOUNTAINS’ TOURISM BY THE TRAVEL COST METHOD

Ida Mountains have mythological, naturally, culturally and historically important values. In 1993, some parts of Ida Mountains were declared a national park and protected. However, the area where is outside the national park and suitable for tourism activities has been irrecoverably damaged by productive activities as mining. Protecting the natural resources for next generations would be possible only through sustainable point of view. This study aims to calculate the economic value of tourism resources of Ida Mountains with travel cost management. The question form is prepared in order to determine the economic value of the touristic use of this region by travel cost method. In addition, data is gathered via face-to-face meetings with visitors. Then, annual individual consumer surplus and total surplus of Ida Mountains are calculated in the regression model. These numbers are 3.959,46 TL and 384.958.445, 95 TL. Based on the results, visitors bear quite high costs in order to visit Ida Mountains. Moreover, this quantity will increase day by day due to the protection of the natural structure of Ida