Valuing Ecotourism in Palutungan Resort, Gunung Ciremai National Park, Indonesia

In this paper, we conducted an empirical study on the economic value of Palutungan Resort, Gunung Ciremai National Park (Indonesia), using an individual travel cost method. Gunung Ciremai is the highest mountain in West Java Province which has high biodiversity and constitutes the home range of the endangered species, Nisaetus bartelsi and leopards. Using the individual travel cost method, we estimated the annual consumer surplus of ecotourism for Palutungan Resort to be approximately $19, while its total economic value was $0.23 million. However, Palutungan Resort does not benefit exclusively, because the total economic value is divided diversely among the central government (non-tax revenue), local government (taxes), and local communities, while the transportation agencies, retailers, and gas station companies also reap some valuable benefits. In regard to the benefit allocation, all of the associated parties should participate in the conservation and preservation of natural resources in Palutungan Resort to improve the ecotourism services.