SOUTHERN JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS DECEMBER 1990 ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF STATE PARKS ON STATE ECONOMIES IN THE SOUTH

The economic impacts of recreational visits to state parks on the economies of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee were estimated using the U.S. Forest Service IMPLAN input-output modeling system. Recreational expenditure data associated with state parks were obtained from the Public Area Recreation Visitors Study (PARVS). Results suggest that recreational spending may stimulate a considerable amount of economic activity in the state economies studied. Hence, future research into the economic development potential of outdoor recreation seems warranted.