Value of Alabama's Beaches

The coastal/beach tourism "industry" is an important part of the Alabama economy.

The Robert Louis Stevenson poem with the line “golden is the sand” was not written with the Alabama beaches in mind - but it could have been!  Alabama’s Gulf of Mexico beaches are one of the greatest economic and environmental assets of the state. The tourist economy in south Baldwin County provides over 40,000 jobs and over $1.5 billion in revenue annually.  Millions of dollars in local, state, and federal taxes are generated by this economy and used to pay for other important governmental functions.  Billions of dollars in private wealth have also been created along the coast.  All of this business ultimately rests on the thin strip of beach sand, the strand, along the Gulf of Mexico.
 
 But the beaches are more than just an economic engine, they are part of the fabric of society in Alabama.  Alabama citizens throughout the state consider the Gulf beaches to be one of the state’s prettiest areas.  Indeed, people from throughout the nation and the world acknowledge that the beauty of the white sand and gentle surf creates some of the prettiest beaches in the world.  The beaches add to the quality of life for many citizens.