Desert recreation: Economic values of management and service strategies

This study focuses on the management of a desert area. It utilizes survey datato assess visitors' preferences and values for several management strategies designed to alleviate conflicts in this region. The implications may help to understand management issues in other similar environments. The results show distinctive differences between how these management strategies may be valued by the resource users, depending on the intended goals of the strategies. A key conclusion is that the best management strategy is interrelated with the characteristics of the resource users. A heterogeneous analysis and diversified policy may achieve better management goals and social welfare.