Monday, March 18, 2024

AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums contribute $24 billion to US economy

ABOVE: Columbus Zoo and Aquarium

AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums around the country generate significant economic benefits locally, regionally and nationally, according to a new analysis conducted by nationally recognized economist, Dr. Stephen Fuller, for the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).

The 215 AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums in the U.S. serve more than 183 million annual visitors and support over 212,000 jobs, generating $24 billion in the total value of goods and services generated directly and indirectly as a result of annual outlays by AZA members and their visitors.

“AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums are important economic assets as well as conservation centers,” said Dan Ashe, President and CEO of AZA. “Not only are AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums deeply committed to science education and saving species, but they generate jobs and support local communities by attracting millions of visitors each year.”

According to the report, these economic impacts include: contributions to the local, state, national and international economies that enlarge their respective values of goods and services they produce (i.e., gross domestic product), new personal earnings (labor income—salaries and wages) that accrue to workers residing in the host jurisdictions, and jobs that are supported across the breadth of the local, state and national economies as the initial direct spending by the zoos and aquariums is re-spent and re-cycled in the form of indirect and induced business activities and payroll disbursements.

“Annual spending by zoos and aquariums for operations and capital projects generate significant economic benefits for their host jurisdictions, confirming the overall magnitude of AZA members’ importance to the U.S. economy,” said Fuller, [title] at George Mason University.

The economic impacts of this direct spending in 2018 can be highlighted as follows:

**The direct outlays by U.S. AZA members for operations and construction of $4.9 billion in 2018 contributed a total of $14.5 billion to U.S. GDP

**This direct spending generated $4.5 billion in new personal earnings to the benefit of workers residing in the U.S. and supported 119,570 full-time, year-round equivalent jobs across all sectors of the U. S. economy

**The before-and-after-visit visitor spending, estimated to total $2.9 billion, added an additional $8.0 billion to GDP, generated $2.5 billion in new personal earnings and supported 78,673 full-time, year-round equivalent jobs nationwide; and,

**The total contribution of AZA members to the U.S. economy in 2018, based on direct outlays totaling $7.8 billion, was $22.5 billion, generating personal earnings totaling $7.0 billion and supporting 198,243 full-time, year-round equivalent jobs.

Joe Kleiman
Joe Kleimanhttp://wwww.themedreality.com
Raised in San Diego on theme parks, zoos, and IMAX films, InPark's Senior Correspondent Joe Kleiman would expand his childhood loves into two decades as a projectionist and theater director within the giant screen industry. In addition to his work in commercial and museum operations, Joe has volunteered his time to animal husbandry at leading facilities in California and Texas and has played a leading management role for a number of performing arts companies. Joe previously served as News Editor and has remained a contributing author to InPark Magazine since 2011. HIs writing has also appeared in Sound & Communications, LF Examiner, Jim Hill Media, The Planetarian, Behind the Thrills, and MiceChat His blog, ThemedReality.com takes an unconventional look at the attractions industry. Follow on twitter @ThemesRenewed Joe lives in Sacramento, California with his wife, dog, and a ghost.

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