Regular Article J F E S Journal of Forest and Environmental Science pISSN: 2288-9744, eISSN: 2288-9752 Journal of Forest and Environmental Science Vol. 32, No. 4, pp. 344-352, November, 2016 https://doi.org/10.7747/JFES.2016.32.4.344 344 Journal of Forest and Environmental Science http://jofs.or.kr Valuing Ecotourism in Palutungan Resort, Gunung Ciremai National Park, Indonesia Saputra Nur Adi 1 , Don Koo Lee 1 , Joowon Park 2 and Yohan Lee 1, * 1 Departement of Sustainable Development, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan 38541, Republic of Korea 2 Departement of Forestry, Kyungpook Natioinal University, Daegu 41566, Republic of Korea Abstract In this paper, we conducted an empirical study on the economic value of Palutungan Resort, Gunung Ciremai National Park (Indonesia), using an individual travel cost method. Gunung Ciremai is the highest mountain in West Java Province which has high biodiversity and constitutes the home range of the endangered species, Nisaetus bartelsi and leopards. Using the individual travel cost method, we estimated the annual consumer surplus of ecotourism for Palutungan Resort to be approximately $19, while its total economic value was $0.23 million. However, Palutungan Resort does not benefit exclusively, because the total economic value is divided diversely among the central government (non-tax revenue), local government (taxes), and local communities, while the transportation agencies, retailers, and gas station companies also reap some valuable benefits. In regard to the benefit allocation, all of the associated parties should participate in the conservation and preservation of natural resources in Palutungan Resort to improve the ecotourism services. Key Words: ecotourism, individual travel cost method, consumer surplus, importance performance analysis, Gunung Ciremai National Park Received: May 18, 2016. Revised: July 9, 2016. Accepted: July 15, 2016. Corresponding author: Yohan Lee Departement of Sustainable Development, Yeungnam University, 280 Daehak-ro, Gyeongsan 38541, Republic of Korea Tel: 82-53-810-2163, Fax: 82-53-810-2055, E-mail: johnlee@yu.ac.kr Introduction Over the last fifty years, tourism has been recorded as the fastest growing industry, accounting for some 9% of the world’s GDP (over 235 million jobs) and providing one out of 12 jobs in the world (UNWTO 2015). International tourist arrivals reached 1.138 billion in 2014, a 4.7% in- crease over the previous year, further contributing to the global economic recovery around the world (UNWTO 2015). Ecotourism has become a global issue and has at- tracted much attention (Stone and Wall 2004; Gurung and Seeland 2011; Gilbert 2003), especially in developing countries, which represent 46% of the total international tourist arrivals in 2011 (UNWTO 2015). Ecotourism is defined specifically as “responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment, sustains the well-being of the local people, and involves interpretation and education” (TIES 2015). Most of the tourists come from developed countries and involve people seeking more leisure and showing concern to improve the quality of the environment (Veenhoven 1999; Rinzin et al. 2007). Hetzer (1965) identified four “pillars” of responsible tourism: minimizing the environmental impact, respecting the host culture, maximizing the benefits to local people, and maximizing tourist satisfaction. The tourism context was shifted toward “ecological tourism” by Miller’s (1978) work on eco-development in Latin America in the 1970s- 1980s. The concept of ecotourism comprises both supply and demand in the balance of natural resources and the eco- nomic welfare and well-being of the local people (Batta