Destination choice models for rock climbing in the Northeastern Alps: A latent-class approach based on intensity of a latent-class approach preferences

Rock-climbers are likely to exhibit preference heterogeneity that dictate the way with which such sports are practiced. This has a reflection on the population’s structure of recreational values of rock-climbing destinations, their attributes and to land management policies. We test this hypothesis on a panel of destination choices by a sample of members of the Italian Alpine Club. Using a latent-class random utility approach we find evidence in support of the hypothesis that there are at least four classes in the sample, thereby revealing a considerable richness in the structure of preference, which would otherwise be unobservable with more conventional approaches.