The travel cost method is a revealed preference valuation technique widely used in ecological economics to estimate the economic value of environmental goods and services that are not traded in conventional markets. It is particularly applied to recreational sites such as national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, lakes, beaches, forests, and other natural ecosystems that provide enjoyment and recreational benefits to visitors. Since such environmental assets do not have explicit market prices, the travel cost method infers their value from the expenses people incur to access them. The underlying logic is that the time and money spent traveling to a site represent the “price” individuals are willing to pay to enjoy the recreational services of that ecosystem. The conceptual foundation of the travel cost method lies in consumer demand theory. In standard economics, the demand for a good is revealed through the price consumers pay and the quantity they consume. For environmental amenities like scenic beauty or biodiversity-rich landscapes, there is no direct price. However, visitors incur costs such as transportation expenses, entry fees, accommodation costs, food expenses, and the opportunity cost of time spent traveling and on-site. These costs vary depending on the distance traveled and individual characteristics. By observing how visitation rates change with travel costs, economists can derive a demand curve for the recreational site and estimate the consumer surplus, which serves as a measure of the site’s economic value. The application of the travel cost method typically begins with defining the study site and the relevant population of visitors. The site must be one where visitation is primarily motivated by recreational or environmental enjoyment rather than compulsory reasons such as work. Data collection is a crucial step and is usually carried out through surveys administered to visitors at