Does Ecotourism in Nature Reserves Have an Impact on Farmers’ Income? Counterfactual Estimates Based on Propensity Score Matching

Abstract

Farmers’ participation in ecological tourism management in nature reserves is an important way to increase income. Based on 921 pieces of household survey data from 44 villages in six nature reserves in Liaoning Province, this paper uses multiple linear regression (OLS) and propensity score matching (PSM) to explore the impact of ecotourism on rural household income. The research results show that (1) a total of 90 rural households participated in ecotourism management, accounting for 9.78% of the total, and 831 rural households did not participate in ecotourism management, accounting for 90.22% of the total. The participation rate of farmers around the nature reserves was not high; (2) the participation in ecotourism management of farmers around the nature reserve has a positive and significant impact on the per capita annual net income of their households; and (3) multiple linear regression analysis will overestimate the income effect of ecotourism. This article provides inspiration for the government to propose relevant policies to encourage farmers to participate in ecotourism.