FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 10, 2011
Contact: Ken or Kate Gooderham -- (239) 489-2616

Beaches a boost for our economy

Along with sun and fun, beaches can be a strong economic player locally and nationally.

We all know that beaches are a great place for fun and memories. They are also are a great contributor to the U.S. economy. Protecting beaches is a smart investment...and here's a chance to see how smart you are about the economic engine fueled by the sun and sand of your beach:

QUESTION : Compared to the number of people who visit our state and national parks, how many people visit America’s coast?

a.        About the same number
b.       Half as many
c.        Twice as many

ANSWER : More than twice as many people visit America’s coasts as visit our state and national parks — all of them, combined.

QUESTION : How much U.S. tourism-related revenue is generated in coastal states, where beaches are the leading tourist attraction?

a.        85%
b.       50%
c.        35%

ANSWER : About 85 percent of all tourism-related revenue in the U.S. is generated in coastal states — where beaches are the leading tourist attraction.

QUESTION : How much money does government receive in taxes generated by beach tourists for every dollar it spends on beach nourishment?

a.        $25
b.       $200
c.        $320

ANSWER : Each year, government takes in $320 in taxes from beach tourists for every dollar it spends on beach nourishment.

QUESTION : It is estimated that the overall contribution of beaches to the American economy is

a.        $320 billion
b.       $200 billion
c.        $100 billion

ANSWER : One economist's estimate puts the overall contribution of beaches to the American economy at more than $320 billion annually (in 2007 dollars).

QUESTION : Well over half of the nation’s gross domestic product ($7.9 trillion) is generated in 673 counties along the oceans and Great Lakes, according to NOAA’s National Ocean Economics Program. How many jobs does that result in?

a.        5 million jobs
b.       69 million jobs
c.        40 million jobs

ANSWER : That adds up to 69 million jobs and $3.4 trillion in wages. If U.S. coastal counties were a separate country, its economy would be second largest in the world.

QUESTION : True or false. With sea level slowly rising, and perhaps even accelerating, experts say regular beach nourishment and wider and higher beaches will be the answer for America’s ocean coast as far into the future as planners can plan.

ANSWER : True. In most cases sea level rise will be slow enough that beach nourishment can compensate.

QUESTION : Wider and higher beaches mean more abundant habitat and recreation for:

a.        Birds
b.       Turtles
c.        People

ANSWER : All of the above. Wide beaches are great for sea turtle nesting, bird nesting and resting, and people recreating. That doesn’t even count that wider beaches make communities safer.

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ABOUT ASBPA: Founded in 1926, the ASBPA promotes the integration of science, policies and actions that maintain, protect and enhance the coasts of America. For more information on ASBPA, go to www.asbpa.org, facebook or www.twitter.com/asbpa.