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SHUTTING DOWN STATE PARKS AND CAMPGROUNDS WILL WEAKEN CALIFORNIA’S TOURISM ECONOMY AT A TIME WHEN FAMILIES SEE CAMPING AS THE MOST AFFORDABLE VACATION OPTION
“We think the Governor’s proposal to close 80 percent of California’s state parks is short-sighted, particularly when statistics show that these parks generate far more tax revenue than the state spends to maintain them.”
‒ Debbie Sipe, California Assn of RV Parks and Campgrounds
AUBURN, Calif., June 10, 2009 – The California Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds opposes Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s proposal to close 80 percent of California’s state parks.
“We think the Governor’s proposal to close 80 percent of California’s state parks is short-sighted, particularly when statistics show that these parks generate far more tax revenue than the state spends to maintain them,” said Debbie Sipe, executive director of the California Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds.
Sipe cited a recent study by researchers at Sacramento State University, who reported that visitors to California’s state parks spend $4.3 billion each year in “park-related expenditures.”
“That $4.3 billion generates $300 million a year in sales tax revenue, or more than four times the $70 million in savings the Governor hoped to achieve by closing 80 percent of California’s state parks,” Sipe said, citing Sacramento State University statistics.
The researchers also found that nearly one third of this revenue is generated by out-of-state visitors.
“Why is the Governor wanting to close state parks when they are so lucrative and so critical to California’s tourism economy, which, by the way, is one of the few remaining segments of our economy whose jobs can’t be exported? We think the Governor and his administration need to go back to the drawing board and think this through a little more,” Sipe said.
For additional commentary, statistics and sources on the latest camping trends in campgrounds, RV parks and resorts in California, please contact Debbie Sipe at the California Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds at (530) 885-1624 or (530) 906-4592 (cell). Additional campground, travel and tourism information is also available in the association’s website at www.camp-california.com.
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