Age is a factor affecting preferred recreation. Young people prefer 

 canoeing, hiking, and camping, whereas older people tended to prefer more pas- 

 sive forms such as golf and nature study (e.g., bird watching). People with 

 higher incomes prefer beach recreation, often using recreational vehicles, but 

 people of low income are dependent upon low cost or free recreation such as 

 neighborhood playgrounds. 



Natural constraints on the use of recreational areas are limitations in 

 space (overcrowding), access, and availability. Climate also is a factor 

 (Ketchum 1972). Beach recreation and swimming require warm safe waters. 

 Boaters are more affected by bad weather and the availability of marinas and 

 boat launching facilities. Availability and access are important factors 

 because people with low income do not usually travel far for recreation. 



CHARACTERISTICS OF TOURISM 



Travel expenditures, population growth, and employment serve as indices 

 for evaluating the tourist industry. Examples are food service, employment, 

 lodging, and transportation- related jobs. 



Tourism in Northwest Florida has increased sharply since the mid-1960 's. 

 The number of tourists in 1965-79 increased nearly 300% (1,110,000 to 

 4,409,000). Numbers increased as high as 510% in Okaloosa County and as low 

 as 244% in Escambia County. Since there are no county statistics for tourist 

 trade expenditures and length of stay, statewide statistics are used for esti- 

 mates of the value of tourism in Northwest Florida. In 1969 the average tour- 

 ist in Florida spent $159.00, which, if multiplied by the number of tourists 

 in Northwest Florida, gives a $176 million industry. By 1980, tourist expend- 

 itures in Northwest Florida increased to one billion dollars, a net gain of 

 $830 million (470%). Tourist expenditures vary somewhat. For example, money 

 spent per tourist was $159 in 1965, $346 in 1976, and $288 in 1980. 



Indicators of the level of tourism are the number and capacity of restau- 

 rants, hotels, motels, motor courts, rooming houses, and apartments. Data 

 extracted from the annual statistical reporting units from the Florida Hotel 

 and Restaurant Commission show that in 1955-80, the number of restaurants in 

 Northwest Florida increased 38% (797 to 1,100) and seating capacity increased 

 109% (37,529 to 78,571). Although the number of lodging places increased 110% 

 (944 to 1,978), and the number of units increased 112% (15,527 to 32,987), the 

 number of lodging places and units in Gulf County decreased despite a 221% 

 increase in the number of tourists. 



The percentage increase in the number of restaurants from 1955 to 1980 

 was 144% (102 to 249) in Okaloosa County and 62% (200 to 323) in Bay County. 

 The percentage increase in seating capacities was 168% (9,049 to 24,209) in 

 Bay County and 253% (5,067 to 17,869) in Okaloosa County. An increase of 303 

 restaurants and 44,222 seating units was reported for 1955 to 1980. 



Okaloosa, Bay, and Santa Rosa Counties had the greatest increase in the 

 number of lodging sites, whereas Okaloosa and Escambia Counties had the great- 

 est increase in lodging units. For Northwest Florida the number of lodging 

 units per lodge remained constant in 1955 to 1980 (16.5-16.7). The number of 



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