Tourism Value of Natural Environment in Desert Areas Case Study: Banadaksadat area of Yazd

Economic value of natural resources is increased via tourism resources function. Natural environment in the desert area has great potential for attracting tourists and in this respect it has a nonmarketable value. Making these values marketable may lead to rise up the economic value of natural environment in the desert area. One of the most important natural environments in the desert areas of the Yazd province is Bnadak-Sadat. This area is located on the mountain slope with seasonal rivers as well as areas such as the Chelle cave، attracting many tourists in every year. In this study the economic value of this desert area was determined based on a tourism approach in 2010. To do this، 263 questionnaires based on the Mitchell and Carson method were completed by tourists visiting Banadak-Sadat. The results showed that the tourists had willingness to pay 6760 Rials per visit and the recreational value of this natural environment was estimated to annually be 1. 1 billion Rials. The actual value of this region will become clearer by investing at least up to the recreational value obtained in order to increase the number of tourists and associated incomes.