VALORACIN ECONMICA DEL SERVICIO AMBIENTAL DE RECREACIN DEL LAGO DE PTZCUARO, MICHOACN E. Melo Guerrero; J. A.

Torres Prez RESUMEN El Lago de Ptzcuaro proporciona entre otros el servicio ambiental de recreacin, disfrutado por miles de turistas que lo visitan cada temporada. Desafortunadamente, dicho servicio, no ha sido valorado en su justa medida, al no presentar un precio de mercado, por lo que el acceso que se tiene a este es prcticamente libre, incurriendo en un congestionamiento que se refleja en su deterioro. Utilizando el mtodo de valoracin contingente (VC), mediante la disponibilidad a apagar (DAP), se estim el valor econmico del Lago. Se aplic una encuesta a 565 turistas, a 11 hoteles y 12 restaurantes por ser los agentes econmicos que se ven beneficiados con la actividad. El valor econmico anual del servicio de recreacin del Lago estimado fue de $956'988,460.84. La disposicin a pagar fue mayor por parte de los turistas seguido de los dueos de restaurantes y finalmente los hoteleros. Palabras clave: Turismo, Valoracin contingente, disponibilidad a pagar, economa ambiental. ECONOMIC VALUATION OF RECREATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES OF LAKE PTZCUARO, MICHOACAN ABSTRACT Ptzcuaro Lake provides recreational environmental service enjoyed by thousands of tourists who visit this site during weekends and holidays. Unfortunately, this service has not been valued in economic terms, the reason that access to it is almost free, causing congestion and damage. Willingness to pay (WTP) for conservation of the Ptzcuaro Lake was calculated by using the contingent valuation method. A survey was conducted at the site where 565 tourists were interviewed face to face. Another survey was conducted in which the owners of 11 hotels and 11 restaurants were interviewed, since they are the economic agents who are favored by the tourism. The annual economic value of recreational environmental service of Lake was estimate at $956'988,460.84 Mexican pesos. The highest WTP was stated by tourists, followed by the owners of restaurants, and finally by owners hotels. Key words: Tourism, Contingent Valuation, willingness to pay, environmental economics.