Ramping Up Those Tourism Dollars
The development of Florida’s coastline is a topic that generates a great deal of interest from all sides of the issue. Many will argue that Florida’s economic foundation is the tourism industry and it is important to make sure there are sufficient infrastructure and amenities in place to continue to draw those tourism dollars to the sunshine state.
Others will argue that constant growth destroys the very thing that tourists come to admire, Florida’s natural beauty.
Recently, Taylor County seems to have come up with a solution that both preserves the the natural wonder of its coastline but also ensures that it capitalizes on that resource.
Its Solution? Boat Ramps.
Through a grant from the National Sea Grant College Program and a partnership with the University of Florida, the County Commission discovered some very interesting information about the economic impact of its boat ramps. These results are something that every coastal county should consider when trying to diversify and increase tourism revenue.
The County was considering an ordinance that would, among other things, establish guidelines for boat ramp operations and fees for use. That ordinance was eventually adopted in July, 2011. Many residents were concerned about the state of ramp access in the community and were also concerned about what the expansion and improvement of boat ramps along the coast would mean in terms of increased traffic and congestion. The Sea Grant report summed up why improvements and expansion would work.
The following are significant findings from the report:
- The average total in-county trip expenditure of visiting boaters who were day trippers is estimated at $138.89 per trip. The average total in-county trip expenditure of visiting boaters who stayed overnight is estimated at $377.52 per trip. When multiplied by the number of estimated boating trips for visitor groups, this translates to $1.73 million for day-trip visitors and $4.39 million for overnight visitors, annually.2
- Total impacts for all users, including regional multiplier effects, were 158 full-time and part-time jobs, $4.11 million in labor income (earnings), $6.44 million in value added, and $10.07 million in output or revenues, with these values expressed in 2011 dollars.3
- Total economic impacts were highest for overnight visitors, with employment impacts of 103 jobs, labor income impacts of $2.66 million, value added impacts of $4.16 million, and output impacts of $6.62 million. Total economic impacts for daytrip visitors were 39 jobs, $1.09 million in labor income, $1.70 million in value added, and $2.58 million in output. Direct economic impacts for county residents were 16 jobs, $366,254 in labor income, $575,710 in value added, and $865,527 in output.4
With about 30% of the visiting boaters staying for two to three days, there is an opportunity to provide increased lodging and other amenities to induce the travelers to stay longer. With planning that takes into consideration that the draw to this region is the natural beauty and nautical resources, a balance could surely be achieved that would continue to grow the tourism economy.
Applying this approach to the hundreds of miles of undeveloped coastline around the state of Florida would help struggling local economies by generating tourism dollars and employing Floridians.
1. Taylor County, FL Adopts Boat Ramp Ordinance
2. Planning for Waterway Access in Taylor County, Florida: Residence and Users Speak, 2011. pg. 19
3. Planning for Waterway Access in Taylor County, Florida: Residence and Users Speak, 2011. pg. 19
4. Planning for Waterway Access in Taylor County, Florida: Residence and Users Speak, 2011. pg. 20
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