Tourism Dependence in Rural America: Estimates and Effects

Abstract

Abstract Recreation and tourism development continue to play an important role in reshaping rural America. Efforts to evaluate the effects of such development are complicated because residents and nonrecreation visitors also use the businesses that are affected by recreation and tourism visitors. We present a method for estimating in nonmetropolitan counties jobs and income that are generated by recreation and tourism visitors from outside the county. Several different techniques are used to (1) cluster similar counties, (2) account for the portion of tourism sector employment that serves local residents, and (3) account for the portion of export activity that serves nonrecreation visitors. Finally, we address the consequences of recreation dependence in rural counties. The counties most dependent on nonlocal tourism activity are compared to other rural counties on income, population, economic structure, and housing variables. Keywords: Minimum Requirements;Nonmetropolitan;Counties;Recreation Dependence;Rural Development;Tourism Dependence