MDC’s key message that “Conservation pays by enriching our economy and quality of life” implies that MDC needs to be accountable to Missourians by evaluating and publicizing those benefits. Successful management of Missouri’s natural resources involves a partnership with citizens, organizations, and agencies. During the decision making process on the elk restoration plan one idea communicated to the public was the potential for economic benefits from the restoration of elk. Using onsite visitor surveys, we estimated the number of people visiting specifically to view elk and both the economic impact of these visits to local communities and the economic value that elk provided to the visitors.
Did You See the Elk? Visitor Survey Results from MDC's Elk Tour Loop (PDF, 585 KB)
Information gathered in this study provides MDC decision makers, O&E “marketers”, area staff as well as local political and business leaders with baseline estimates of how many people are going to see (or try to see) elk at MDC’s Elk Tour Loops. It helps us understand what this new tourism is doing for the local economy, and for the visitors themselves. Local governments can use the information to encourage further investments in tourism infrastructure and in designing marketing campaigns. Follow-up studies can then gauge the effectiveness of their campaigns. MDC can use the information to help garner support for elk restoration outside of our usual constituency and will serve as a baseline when measuring the economic impacts of elk hunting should a season be implemented.
Published on Feb 01, 2017 -