Celia Bilbao-Terol, Luis Valdés

The environmental setting, farming activities and rural accommodation prices

The objective of this study is to analyze how the characteristics of the environment associated with agricultural activities influence the prices of rural tourism accommodation. To this end the model of hedonic prices is applied, which allows to break down the price of a good or service depending on the characteristics that it entails, including those of its environment. The study is carried out in the autonomous community of Asturias. The results indicate that the market values positively accommodation establishments located in municipalities with a high percentage of forests and pastureland, and negatively those located in municipalities with a high percentage of cultivated land. The study serves as a starting point for cost-benefit analysis of the policies aimed to promote activities that will improve the rural environment.

Keywords: rural tourism; environmental characteristics; agricultural activities; hedonic prices; environmental assessment

Check other articles from the issue Primavera 2016 or from other issues.