The State of the Beaches Report was produced by Surfrider in collaboration with the country's leading coastal scientists and underwritten by Mazda North American Operations. The report is designed to educate the public on the uncertain status of America's beaches and to highlight success stories. The 61-page report states that an estimated 180 million people will visit American beaches this year, producing 85 percent of the country's tourist revenue. Coutsoftides said that according to the US Department of Commerce and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, more than half of the country's population is living within 50 miles of the coast. More than 75 percent of the population will live within 80 miles of the beach by 2025, she added.
Beaches are the top vacation destination in the country.
Coastal tourism, attributable in part to clean beaches, generates substantial revenues for state and local governments. The Top 20 list was released Tuesday to cities across the nation, Coutsoftides said, and was the subject of a CNN television report.