As a recreational activity that has seen dramatic growth in popularity across the United States and around the world, nature-based tourism is viewed by many communities as a long-term sustainable option to generate revenue, especially for those areas with limited resources for economic development. Nature-based tourism brings revenue to communities from travelers that patronize local businesses, and come to experience local cultural activities, which equates to a higher multiplier effect in the community.

Nature tourism is appealing to many community developers because of the low start-up costs as they are based on existing natural resources, when compared to other large-scale constructed tourist attractions. Additionally, this form of tourism has non-consumptive characteristics, which lead to multiple environmental benefits including the conservation of natural resources and the potential for increased funding for local nature-based research opportunities such as wildlife surveys or agricultural research initiatives.

Growing popularity of nature-based tourism and economic impacts:

In 2006 a study conducted by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, found an increase of over 5 million participants in outdoor recreation in the five year time span from 2001 to 2006. In 2006 more than 87.5 million people in the United States over the age of 16 participated in outdoor recreation. In all, $122.3 billion was spent in 2006 on nature based tourism activities, which is an increase of 12% from what was spent in 2001 on these types of activities.

Economic impacts of Texas State Parks:

Texas State Parks serve as a driving force for economic growth and tourism throughout the state, and are responsible for creating a rapidly growing tourism industry, which today is listed as one of the top five industries in the state. State Parks are a destination for many tourists, which create additional positive impacts on communities through increased levels of employment. For example Mustang Island State Park provides 47 jobs and over $1.4 million dollars in household income for Nueces County where it is located. State Parks generate employment and expenditures outside of the park boundaries, due to tourists spending on items such as food, gas, gear, etc. in the resident parks’ host communities. The entire Texas State Park system provides roughly 12,986 jobs, $496 million in resident Texans’ income, and $863 million in sales impact.

You might be asking yourself at this point what all of these statistics mean for your community. These statistics reflect a steadily growing trend in the area of nature-based tourism. The millions of dollars spent each year in the United States on these forms of recreation have positive long-term benefits to both communities and their natural environments.

• Create additional sources of revenue:

Increase visitor numbers to restaurants, stores, and hotels in a community beyond the current number of guests.

• Generate tourism in off-seasons:

Draws nature tourists to areas during and outside of traditional ‘peak seasons’

Provides a more continuous flow of tourism dollars year round

Ex: The Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail brings bird watchers in droves to the Coastal communities during the fall and winter months, when the beaches are less frequented.

• Use and promotion of local businesses and partnerships:

Promotes local businesses through partnerships that encourages visitors to patronize multiple locations

Partnerships help to facilitate the sharing of positive information about local businesses to tourists, who use this information to make trip related decisions.

Nature tourism can be started in virtually any community. There are a variety of resources to help communities properly research, implement, and create a nature-based tourism destination in their area. Organizations such as our TEEX/AdventGX alliance, Texas Parks and Wildlife, and local wildlife organizations have a variety of resources and personnel that can help identify natural resources and educate the community on how to responsibly provide access and promotion to these areas as well as helping establish partnerships with local businesses. Nature-based tourism is a viable option for communities to not only generate long term revenue but also conserve their natural resources for generations to come.

Special thank you to Texas Parks and Wildlife, and the State Park Director, Walt Dabney.

About the Author: Andria Godfrey is the Sustainable Tourism Consultant for AdventGX, an economic development and tourism consulting firm located in College Station, Texas. She is currently pursuing her graduate degree at Texas A&M University in the Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Sciences with an emphasis on sustainable tourism and tourism marketing. Andria can be reached via email at andriagodfrey@adventgx.com.