Economic Valuation of Cultural Heritage Using the Travel Cost Method: The Historical Centre of the Municipality of Bucharest as a Case Study

Because heritage buildings represent a special category of goods due to characteristics such as uniqueness and irreversibility, they are associated with multiple possibilities of use. This article aims to present a complex analysis of the values associated with using heritage buildings in the histor...

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Main Authors: Florentina-Cristina Merciu, Alexandru-Ionuţ Petrişor, George-Laurenţiu Merciu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-09-01
Series:Heritage
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2571-9408/4/3/133
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author Florentina-Cristina Merciu
Alexandru-Ionuţ Petrişor
George-Laurenţiu Merciu
author_facet Florentina-Cristina Merciu
Alexandru-Ionuţ Petrişor
George-Laurenţiu Merciu
author_sort Florentina-Cristina Merciu
collection DOAJ
description Because heritage buildings represent a special category of goods due to characteristics such as uniqueness and irreversibility, they are associated with multiple possibilities of use. This article aims to present a complex analysis of the values associated with using heritage buildings in the historical center of Bucharest and their correlation with corresponding conservation measures using the travel cost method. The authors used two computation methods: the zonal travel cost and the individual travel cost methods. The application of Bravais–Pearson’s coefficient of linear correlation confirmed that the demand for a cultural heritage site is inversely related to the travel costs and distance. The results reflect that the demand also depends on other factors, such as the satisfaction level of the tourist experience and tourists’ income and motivations. The study highlights the usefulness of the travel cost method, which facilitates analyzing the relationship between the significant value of using historical monuments and the extremely important conservation process in the current context, marked by socioeconomic dynamics that determine many reuses of cultural heritage.
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spelling doaj.art-4ecd646d5a27457981683266af48965a2023-11-22T13:20:34ZengMDPI AGHeritage2571-94082021-09-01432356237610.3390/heritage4030133Economic Valuation of Cultural Heritage Using the Travel Cost Method: The Historical Centre of the Municipality of Bucharest as a Case StudyFlorentina-Cristina Merciu0Alexandru-Ionuţ Petrişor1George-Laurenţiu Merciu2Faculty of Geography, Interdisciplinary Center of Advanced Research on Territorial Dynamics, University of Bucharest, 010041 Bucharest, RomaniaDoctoral School of Urban Planning, Ion Mincu University of Architecture and Urbanism, 010014 Bucharest, RomaniaFaculty of Geography, Interdisciplinary Center of Advanced Research on Territorial Dynamics, University of Bucharest, 010041 Bucharest, RomaniaBecause heritage buildings represent a special category of goods due to characteristics such as uniqueness and irreversibility, they are associated with multiple possibilities of use. This article aims to present a complex analysis of the values associated with using heritage buildings in the historical center of Bucharest and their correlation with corresponding conservation measures using the travel cost method. The authors used two computation methods: the zonal travel cost and the individual travel cost methods. The application of Bravais–Pearson’s coefficient of linear correlation confirmed that the demand for a cultural heritage site is inversely related to the travel costs and distance. The results reflect that the demand also depends on other factors, such as the satisfaction level of the tourist experience and tourists’ income and motivations. The study highlights the usefulness of the travel cost method, which facilitates analyzing the relationship between the significant value of using historical monuments and the extremely important conservation process in the current context, marked by socioeconomic dynamics that determine many reuses of cultural heritage.https://www.mdpi.com/2571-9408/4/3/133nonmarket evaluationwillingness to payrevealed preference methodcontingent behaviorrecreation
spellingShingle Florentina-Cristina Merciu
Alexandru-Ionuţ Petrişor
George-Laurenţiu Merciu
Economic Valuation of Cultural Heritage Using the Travel Cost Method: The Historical Centre of the Municipality of Bucharest as a Case Study
Heritage
nonmarket evaluation
willingness to pay
revealed preference method
contingent behavior
recreation
title Economic Valuation of Cultural Heritage Using the Travel Cost Method: The Historical Centre of the Municipality of Bucharest as a Case Study
title_full Economic Valuation of Cultural Heritage Using the Travel Cost Method: The Historical Centre of the Municipality of Bucharest as a Case Study
title_fullStr Economic Valuation of Cultural Heritage Using the Travel Cost Method: The Historical Centre of the Municipality of Bucharest as a Case Study
title_full_unstemmed Economic Valuation of Cultural Heritage Using the Travel Cost Method: The Historical Centre of the Municipality of Bucharest as a Case Study
title_short Economic Valuation of Cultural Heritage Using the Travel Cost Method: The Historical Centre of the Municipality of Bucharest as a Case Study
title_sort economic valuation of cultural heritage using the travel cost method the historical centre of the municipality of bucharest as a case study
topic nonmarket evaluation
willingness to pay
revealed preference method
contingent behavior
recreation
url https://www.mdpi.com/2571-9408/4/3/133
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