Challenges of estimating the value of tourism and recreation in the Murray Darling Basin

The Murray-Darling Basin provides the backdrop for a growing tourism and recreation sector (Hassall and Gillespie 2004). This sector encompasses a range of activities, from traditional pursuits such as duck hunting , fishing , and boating to, more recently, eco-based tourism and recreation and a flourishing food and wine culture. In combmation, tourism, recreation, and amenity values in the Murray-Darling Basin provide jobs and livelihoods for small tourism businesses in the region.