Endogenous On-Site Time in the Recreation Demand Model

Careful modeling of on-site time may substantially improve estimates of the benefits of recreational visits using the travel cost method, especially when on-site time is endogenous. This paper reviews the theory of endogenous on-site time, and shows how the theory may apply to the Random Utility Model (RUM). An empirical example of a two-level, nested-choice model of sport fishing in southcentral Alaska illustrates a discussion of the relative advantages of the different ways to specify endogenous onsite time.