P OTENTIAL E CONOMIC B ENEFITS OF N ATURE & H ISTORIC
T OURISM FOR D ORCHESTER C OUNTY
This paper presents an analysis of the economic benefits resulting from those visiting existing
and proposed, nature-oriented and historical attractions located in Dorchester County.
According to the U.S. Travel Industry Association8...
Visitors to historic sites and cultural attractions stay longer and spend more money than
other kinds of tourists. Cultural and heritage visitors spend, on average, $623 per trip
compared to $457 for all U.S. travelers excluding the cost of transportation.
Of course only a portion of the $623 per trip would be spent locally. A recent study of natureand history-oriented tourism in Worcester County showed that the local economic benefits
average $139.76 per visit.9
DORCHESTER COUNTY MUSEUMS & OTHER ATTRACTIONS
The Dorchester County Department of Tourism compiles figures on visitation rates to ten
museums and other attractions: Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge Visitors Center, Bucktown
Village Store, Dorchester Art Center, Dorchester County Visitors Center at Cambridge, Harriet
Tubman Museum (in Cambridge), Historical Society, Nathan of Dorchester skipjack, Richardson
Museum, Stanley Institute, and the Vienna Museum. Collectively, these ten attractions drew
86,856 visitors in 2008. In fiscal year 08, roughly 22,400 people came into the Blackwater
National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center. Of the 5,074 that signed the visitor log 41% indicated
that they are interested in nature and/or heritage attractions. The Blackwater Refuge Visitors
Center and the County Visitors Center accounted for, respectively, 67% and 23% of the 2008
visits to Dorchester County attractions.
Economic Benefit - $290,050 per year
BLACKWATER NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) is Dorchester largest nature/heritage attraction.
The refuge is located 12 miles south of Cambridge, MD and was established in 1933 as a haven
for migratory waterfowl. The refuge includes more than 25,000 acres, composed mainly of rich
tidal marsh characterized by fluctuating water levels and variable salinity. Originally
established for migratory birds, primarily ducks and geese, Blackwater is one of the chief
wintering areas for Canada Geese using the Atlantic Flyway and is also known for its large
8
A summary of the research can be found on the following National Trust for Historic Preservation website:
ERLINK"http://www.culturalheritagetourism.org/resources/research.htm"http://www.culturalheritagetourism.org/res
ources/research.htm
9
Economic Impact of Nature Tourism and Cultural Activities in Worcester County, Maryland, Institute for
Governmental Service, Center for Applied Policy Studies, University of Maryland, College Park. Available online
at: http://www.umresearch.umd.edu/IGS/publications/worcester_tourism.pdf
Page 2 of 4
populations of American bald eagles.. In 2008, there were 198,821visits to Blackwater NWR.1
Economic Benefit - $27,787,223 per year.
HARRIET TUBMAN & UNDERGROUND RAILROAD
A number of facilities are proposed to help visitors appreciate the tremendous contributions
made by Harriet Tubman and the many others who operated the Underground Railroad. These
facilities include:
·
·
·
·
the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park consisting of 5,700
acres throughout Dorchester, Caroline, and Talbot Counties, with 2,775 acres in
Dorchester; 4
the 17-acre Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad State Park;
the Harriet Tubman Discovery Center; and
the 125-mile Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad byway.
The Harriet Tubman Discovery Center is being designed for 50,000 to 75,000 visitors per year,5
but the actual number of visitors could be considerably higher. For example, about half of the
people who come to Blackwater NWR enter the Visitor Center.6 At Gettysburg National
Military Park a third of the 1.5 million annual visitors never entered the Visitors Center.7 So the
total number of visitors to the Harriet Tubman and Underground Railroad facilities could be
67,000 to 150,000 per year.
The national and international appeal of the Harriet Tubman State and National Park plus the
125-mile Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad byway could attract many more visitors. In
fact, in the Fall/Winter issue of Shorelines the Dorchester County Department of Tourism and
the Department of Economic Development estimated that these facilities...
“would also build on the growing interest in heritage tourism, which could mean
thousands, perhaps millions, more visitors from around the country or even the world.”
Economic Benefit - $9,300,000 to $20,800,000 per year
1
Banking on Nature 2004: The Economic Benefits to Local Communities of National Wildlife Refuge Visitation,
Division of Economics, U.S. Fish and W ildlife Service, W ashington, DC. Available online at:
http://www.fws.gov/refuges/about/pdfs/BankingOnNature_2004_finalt.pdf
4
Shorelines, Fall/W inter 2008 issue, published by the Dorchester County Departments of Tourism and Economic
Development. Available online at: www.tourdorchester.org/
6
See page 5-9 of the Harriet Tubman Special Resource Study, National Park Service. Available online at:
www.harriettubmanstudy.org/
7
Personal communication with Katie Lawhon, Public Affairs Specialist, Gettysburg National Military Park.
Page 3 of 4
JOHN SMITH TRAIL & DISCOVERY CENTER
According to an August 2008 press release, the 3,000-mile Captain John Smith National Historic
Trail commemorates the explorations of Captain Smith on the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries
in 1607-1609. It is the first national water trail in the United States and a key part of a long-term
strategy to ensure stewardship of the Nanticoke River involving Maryland, Delaware, and
federal, local, and non-profit organizations.
The Captain John Smith Nanticoke Discovery Center will be located at Vienna. While visitation
estimates have not yet been developed, the Dorchester County Department of Tourism
anticipates the Trail and Discovery Center will attract a comparable number of tourists to that of
the Harriet Tubman and Underground Railroad facilities. In other words, the John Smith
facilities might attract another 50,000 to 75,000 visitors per year to Dorchester County.
Economic Benefit - $7- to $10.5-million per year10.
ATTRACTING WORCESTER COUNTY VISITORS TO DORCHESTER
In a study published in 2002, it was estimated that about a fourth of the nine million people
visiting Worcester County each year participated in nature tourism activities, which included
visits to heritage and historic sites and events.11 The economic benefit was estimated at nearly
$300 million per year with this industry supporting approximately 7,000 full-time jobs.
Dorchester County already reaps economic benefits from those traveling to Assateague Island
and other nature- and history-oriented sites in Worcester County. Through the Harriet
Tubman/Underground Railroad and Captain John Smith facilities, Dorchester County will surely
capture a much larger share of the dollars presently being spent in Worcester County. More
importantly, by attracting visitors from throughout the nation and the world the Underground
Railroad facilities should expand the tourism economy for all lower Eastern Shore counties.
CUMULATIVE DORCHESTER COUNTY ECONOMIC BENEFITS
The ten existing attractions, including Blackwater Refuge, draw nearly 200,000 visitors a year to
Dorchester County. These visitors presently spend about $27 million annually within the
County.
The Harriet Tubman/Underground Railroad and Captain John Smith facilities will at least double
the number of visitors (310,000 to 418,000/year) and the direct economic benefit ($43- to $58million/year) to Dorchester County. The actual benefits could be substantially higher given the
higher rate of per-trip spending documented by the U.S. Tourist Industry Association for those
visiting cultural and heritage facilities. Also, compared to existing attractions, the Harriet
10
The local economic benefit of the Captain John Smith facilities assumes the 50,000 to 75,000 annual visitors
spend an average of $139.76 per trip.
11
Economic Impact of Nature Tourism and Cultural Activities in Worcester County, Maryland, Institute for
Governmental Service, Center for Applied Policy Studies, University of Maryland, College Park. Available online
at: http://www.umresearch.umd.edu/IGS/publications/worcester_tourism.pdf
Page 4 of 4
Tubman/Underground Railroad facilities will likely draw visitors from much more distant parts
of the United States and the world. So the cumulative benefits to the Dorchester County
economy could be far greater.
Prepared By
Amanda Fenstermaker, Director
Dorchester County Department of Tourism
Richard Klein
At the request of Dorchester Citizens for Safe Energy
Community & Environmental Defense Services
April 8, 2009