Income Generating from Agro-tourism: A Case Study of Fruit-buffet Festival in Rayong, Chanthaburi and Trat Province

Abstract

Rayong, Chanthaburi, and Trat are best known for their fruit-buffet festival. However, the orchards associating with the tourism in these provinces are not much attractive to tourists. They lack interesting activities which tourists want to participate. Moreover, surrounding environments in the orchards the scenery are not well-managed. This study aims to study tourists’ willingness to pay for improving surrounding environment and introducing new activities to the orchards.  The results of the study can then be used to estimate the incremental economic befits of the project. This study employs Contingent Valuation Method to estimate tourists’ willingness to pay. It has been found that the majority of the respondents are willing to pay for additional entrance fee for the improvement. The average value of the willingness to pay is 188 baht per person. The incremental economic value of the project is estimated at 78 million baht per year. Furthermore, the average traveling expense for a round trip is 598 baht per person. The aver-age expense for foods and beverages is 421 baht per person. The average accommodation expense is 636 baht per person. The average souvenir expense is 562 baht per person.