Economic valuation of tourism in marine protected areas: The case of the Tropical Sea Reserve Zone in Peru

Marine protected areas (MPAs) are increasingly recognized as essential strategic tools for maintaining ecological balance and promoting sustainable resource management. However, management strategies including the economic valuation of marine ecosystem services, particularly in developing countries, remain underexplored in relation to terrestrial ecosystems. This research addresses this gap by analyzing a proposal for a new MPA in the northern region of Peru. Thus, we employ a discrete choice experiment methodology to elicit stakeholder preferences and willingness to pay (WTP) for various attributes of the marine ecosystem. The findings reveal a positive WTP for the establishment of the MPA, with the highest support and WTP coming from direct beneficiaries of the area’s biodiversity, such as fishermen and tourists. This study contributes to the limited literature on economic valuation of marine ecosystem services in developing countries, providing valuable insights for policymakers and stakeholders involved in the design and implementation of MPAs.