lodging sites and lodging units in Gulf County and Franklin County decreased. 

 Franklin County lost 50% (651 to 324) of its lodging units in 1955-80. 



The other indicator of tourism is the number of employees in hotel /motel 

 and other lodging business establishments, and in eating and drinking places. 

 As determined from Tables EMP 13-16 in the Data Appendix, regional employment 

 in lodging businesses has increased nearly 209% (1,080 to 3,347) since 1956. 

 In Northwest Florida in 1978, there were 76 employees per 100,000 tourists in 

 hotel /motel and other lodging places. The highest was 98 employees per 

 100,000 tourists in Okaloosa County. The number of employees in eating and 

 drinking establishments in Okaloosa County increased 605% (279 to 1,966) and 

 nearly 470% (65 to 370) in Santa Rosa County. 



According to unpublished data provided by Mr. Ed Stal vey of the Florida 

 Department of Revenue, the State of Florida collected over $83 million in 

 sales taxes from all counties in Northwest Florida in fiscal year 1978-79. 



Those counties with the most taxes were Escambia, Bay, and Okaloosa Coun- 

 ties, which accounted for 90% of all sales tax collections among the seven 

 counties. The 1,893% increase ($4.16 million to $82.92 million from 1955/56 

 to 1978/79) in sales tax receipts among the counties is probably due to the 

 sharp increase in the resident population and tourists in those years. In 

 Northwest Florida, sales capita per resident was $22.99 in 1960 and $154.50 in 

 1979. If tourists were counted as residents, sales per capita would drop con- 

 siderably. 



OUTDOOR RECREATION IN NORTHWEST FLORIDA 



HIGHLIGHTS 



Changes or stress in outdoor recreation will be in those that are 

 resource- based (e.g. hunting and fishing) rather than user-oriented (e.g. golf 

 and tennis). Resource-based recreation includes beach activities, boating, 

 camping, biking, fishing, hiking, hunting, horseback riding, nature study, 

 surfing, swimming, and water skiing. Beach activities include sunbathing, 

 beach combing, and shell collecting. Boating includes fishing, cruising, 

 sailing, and canoeing. Northwest Florida has an ample supply of marinas, 

 docks, boat ramps, and other facilities necessary for boating. 



Good fishing is indicated by the many fish camps, bridges, marinas, party 

 and charter boat facilities, fishing guides, and catwalks. Hunting is the 

 most environmentally demanding of all outdoor recreation because it requires 

 much land, an abundance of game, and high quality environment. In the forest, 

 uplands, and wetlands, most hunting is done with a rifle, but bow and arrow 

 hunting is becoming popular. Game species are turkey, squirrel, deer, wild 

 boar, quail, dove, rabbits, and various waterfowl such as ducks, geese, and 

 coots. 



Expenditures by State and local (primarily county) governments for recre- 

 ation are valuable indicators of supply and demand. Local government expendi- 

 tures for recreation were examined from the County Finances and County Fee Of- 

 ficer's Reports for the years 1950, 1955, 1960, 1965 and fran the Local 



181 



