a b s t r a c tTourism in protected areas can create considerable income for adjacent communities. Based on faceto-face visitor surveys, the present study measures the structure, size and economic impact of tourist expenditure in the six German national parks Niedersächsisches Wattenmeer, Bayerischer Wald, Eifel, Müritz, Hainich and Kellerwald-Edersee. We find that mean daily expenditure per person of national park visitors is considerably below the national averages for tourists in Germany: day-trippers spend between EUR 7 and 13 per day (national average: EUR 28), whereas overnight visitors spend between EUR 37 and 57 (national average: EUR 120). The proportion of visitors with high national park affinity varies between a maximum of almost 46% in Bayerischer Wald and a minimum of nearly 11% in Niedersächsisches Wattenmeer. Between 49% and 51% of tourist expenditure is captured as direct and indirect income. The total impact of tourism ranges between EUR 525 million in Niedersächsisches Wattenmeer and EUR 1.9 million in Kellerwald-Edersee, reflecting the national parks' distinct trajectories as tourist destinations. In order to increase the economic benefits accruing from national parks regional policy could aim at a qualitative upgrading of tourist services, increased marketing of the unique national park label and the promotion of a diverse regional supply base.

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Abstract:The regional labeling scheme Dachmarke Rhön is an approach of the Rhön Biosphere Reserve to foster sustainable economic development through the intensification of regional value chains. The study compares the members of the Dachmarke Rhön with a random sample, both consisting of small rural enterprises in the economic sectors of tourism and food processing. Based on face-to-face interviews with 99 managers, a comparison of the two groups regarding their integration into regional value chains is elaborated: the two groups mainly coincide with regard to the reasons for choosing local suppliers. However, members of the Dachmarke Rhön are putting more emphasis on regional buying and the relationship to their suppliers. The share of total value added within the enterprises is higher in the random sample. This on the other hand explains higher expenses for supplies and a lower direct regional economic impact within the group of enterprises of the Dachmarke Rhön. Nevertheless the analysis shows, that the expenses for buying goods stay to a greater proportion within the region and facilitate a more diverse economic structure. Thus indirect regional economic effects are maximized fostering multifunctionality at the same time. The Dachmarke Rhön therefore can be seen as a market-based tool for fostering sustainable economic development, although the need for improvement regarding logistics and education for sustainable development exists.

National parks are seen as major nature-based tourism attractions. This coincides with an international trend in environmental politics to increasingly highlight the regional economic effects of national parks. The often-lacking acceptance of reserves by the locals, who see them as hindering economic development, is the reason. Also in Germany, national parks have recently been integrated into tourism planning strategy. The economic benefits for local communities thus need to be assessed. Studies in this field, however, face major difficulties: Firstly, Germany's free access policy for its protected areas results in a lack of visitor data. Secondly, data on tourism expenditures are very rare and only provide general information that cannot be considered representative of national parks. This study presents the financial benefits derived from nature-based tourism in and around two German national parks on the basis of the value-added technique. The results clearly indicate that tourism can generate considerable benefits for the regional development in the structurally weak rural periphery. This information should increase the acceptance of national parks by both local communities and politicians. Consequently, German national parks need to further incorporate the concept of socio-economic monitoring.

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