Local Tourists’ Willingness to Pay for Conservation Fees on Peak Season in Pulau Payar Marine Park, Langkawi, Kedah

Marine protected areas (MPAs) are essential for the conservation of Malaysia’s marine resources. Since January 1999, local tourists visiting Pulau Payar Marine Park (PPMP), Kedah, Peninsular Malaysia are required to pay a conservation fee of RM5 per person. This fee has not been revised for the past 24 years. Currently, PPMP does not have a separate conservation fee imposed during the peak season. Hence, the research aimed to (i) identify the local tourists’ perception and attitude toward the conservation of PPMP, (ii) determine the factors influencing local tourists’ willingness to pay for conservation fees during the peak season, and (iii) determine the conservation fees during the season via an open-ended Contingent Valuation Method (CVM). Through interviews with 384 local tourists using convenience sampling, Tobit regression analysis revealed that marital status, income, education level, and positive attitudes significantly affect willingness to pay. The average willingness to pay was found to be RM14.54, exceeding the current fee of RM5.00 and RM30.00 for adult citizens and non-citizens, respectively. This indicating that local tourists value conservation efforts more than the current fee reflects. These findings suggest that revising the conservation fee structure, especially during peak seasons, is crucial for sustainable resource management in MPAs. This study contributes to the development of policies that align conservation fees with users’ perceived value and usage, ensuring the responsible management of marine resources.