What is it about?
Can environmental pollution reduce the economic value of tourist accommodation? This study examines how deteriorating water quality in Spain's Mar Menor coastal lagoon is associated with Airbnb rental prices. We combine accommodation data from 2017 to 2019 with satellite observations of chlorophyll concentrations, an indicator of water quality, and detailed geographical information. Using statistical models that account for accommodation characteristics and location, we find that high levels of marine pollution are significantly associated with lower Airbnb listing prices. The relationship is nonlinear, suggesting that particularly severe environmental deterioration has important economic implications for coastal tourism.
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Why is it important?
Environmental degradation has consequences beyond ecological damage. Our findings demonstrate that poor water quality is associated with lower advertised accommodation prices, creating economic concerns for property owners, tourism businesses, and coastal communities. The study provides evidence that can inform environmental restoration policies, sustainable tourism planning, and discussions about the economic value of protecting coastal ecosystems.
Perspectives
Environmental protection and economic development should not be viewed as competing objectives. Our research on the Mar Menor shows that environmental deterioration is associated with measurable losses in the value of tourism accommodation. Protecting natural resources is therefore not only an ecological responsibility but also an important consideration for maintaining the economic attractiveness and long-term sustainability of coastal destinations.
Dr. Ricardo Teruel-Gutiérrez
Universidad Politecnica de Cartagena
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: El impacto del deterioro medioambiental del Mar Menor en los precios de Airbnb, Revista de Métodos Cuantitativos para la Economía y la Empresa, December 2022, Universidad Pablo de Olavide,
DOI: 10.46661/revmetodoscuanteconempresa.6202.
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