The Economic Value of Water and Ecosystem Preservation

Water Safari. The Water Safari is a 262-mile, nonstop canoe race that begins in
San Marcos and finishes in Seadrift, on the San Antonio Bay. Other variations of
the race also finish in the Bay. In 2003, there were 682 contestants participating
in various forms of marathon canoe racing along the Guadalupe River and into
the San Antonio Bay (Texas Water Safari, 2004).
3.3.3. Economic Impact of Ecotourism
Expenditures and economic impacts from ecotourism are notoriously difficult
to characterize. Definitions differ about what constitutes the “ecotourism
industry,” and because ecotourism is comprised of elements of other sectors
such as the travel, hotel, and restaurant industries, obtaining accurate economic
data regarding ecotourism (and tourism in general) presents a challenge.
However, by any account, the ecotourism industry in Texas is enormous. In
2003, Total Direct Travel spending in Texas was $41.2 billion, ranking Texas
third among all states with a 6 percent share of domestic travel spending (Only
California and Florida have a greater market share). This spending directly
supported 477,000 jobs with earnings of $13.3 billion (Dean Runyan Associates,
2004). Nature-based tourism increased by 63% from 1980 to 1990, making it the
fastest growing sector of the state travel industry. It generates $1 billion in state
taxes, $739 million in local taxes, and $1.4 billion of economic activity.
Average per capita personal income for 2002 in 2002 dollars ranged from
$22,351 in Calhoun County, $26,411 in Refugio County, and $25,394 in Aransas
County, compared to per capita personal income of $28,472 for Texas and
$30,511 for the nation. The larger, 19 county Coastal Bend region yielded a total
gross regional product of $17.5 billion in 2000. Tables 3-3 and 3-4 summarize
basic figures regarding personal income, production earning and travel impacts
in the region.
In the Coastal Bend region, as noted by the Texas state comptroller’s office,
tourism was the fourth largest industry (by employment) behind health care,
services to businesses, and government. Tourism between 1980 and 2001 grew
at an average annual rate of 3.2%, in terms of total spending, making it one of
the fastest growing industries in the region (Strayhorn, 2002).
While irrigated agriculture and in particular, ranching played historically
significant roles in shaping the San Antonio Bay’s regional economy and culture,
agriculture today contributes less than 1% of total personal income (Table 3-3).
Manufacturing constitutes a large sector in the economy of Calhoun County. In
contrast, in Aransas and Refugio counties, services represent one of the major
and expanding job sources. Most of that growth has come in health services and
in services related to tourism, i.e., recreation and entertainment.
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