Our beaches are economic engines that attract millions of visitors and generate millions of dollars in tourism.
Photo: WSL/Pat Nolan
We host numerous surf contests, from WCT finals to dozens of amature surf contests, the Ocean Fest, surf camps, volleyball camps, and millions of visitors who come for sand and sun. .
Photo: Jeremiah Klein
Our beaches are forces of social equity. They’re a big draw for inland residents who can’t afford to live on the coast.
23.4% live in the City, another 25.2% live outside the City but within 20 miles, and another 24.5% live within 60 miles. 16.3% live in California more than 60 miles away. 8.9% of visitors are US residents from out of state; 1.8% are foreign visitors.
Source: King, Philip G. Economic analysis of beach spending and the recreational benefits of beaches in the city of San Clemente. San Francisco State University, 2002.
Our beaches provide recreation we all crave, inspiration we all strive for, and communion with nature we all need. San Clemente without its beaches is not San Clemente.
BEACHES ARE UNDERVALUED AND UNDERFUNDED
“[T]he federal government spends $2.52 for each day visit to a Corps’ lake… and $12.99 per day visit” related to National Parks. By contrast, “the annual federal contribution to beach nourishment averages about $100 million, yielding a cost per day visit to the federal government of $0.04 (Figure 13). If beach recreational benefits were included in Corps’ projects on at least an equal footing with navigation and recreation associated with flood control, benefit/cost ratios for beach nourishment projects would be large, leading to more U.S. jobs, a decreased trade deficit, and enhanced recreational benefits for Americans.”
“Travel and tourism (T&T) is America’s largest employer and earner of foreign exchange, and beaches are its leading tourist destination.”
“Surveys show that beaches are by far the leading U.S. vacation destination with more day visits than are made to all national and state parks and government lands combined.”
Beaches “return[] $230 in federal taxes for every $1 the federal government spends on beach nourishment.”
“Foreign countries are increasing T&T infrastructure investments, including beach nourishment, at a faster rate than the U.S. and are grabbing an increasing share of the world market.”
Source: Houston, J.R., 2018, The Economic Value of America’s Beaches - A 2018 Update.