Agricultural landscape cultivation in Austria: An application of the CVM

This paper evaluates the economic benefits associated with agricultural landscape-cultivating services provided as an input on behalf of the tourism sector in Austria. Applying the Contingent Valuation Method (CVM), 4600 tourists spending vacations in Austria in the summer of 1991 were asked about their willingness to pay for these services. The mean and median amounts recorded were 9.20 and 3.50 Austrian shillings (ATS) per person per day, respectively. However, these values varied according to the tourists' nationality. Even though the study reveals a considerable aggregate willingness to pay (WTP), the amount would probably not suffice to maintain farmers in mountainous regions. Various conclusions for agricultural policy can be drawn concerning direct compensation to farmers for the provision of non-market goods.