Page:Joshua Tree National Park Visitor Study - Spring 2004.pdf/75

Joshua Tree NP VSP Visitor Study

Visitor groups were asked to list the amount of money they spent on their visit to Joshua Tree NP and the surrounding area (Yucca Valley, Joshua Tree, and Twentynine Palms). Expenditures were requested for the following: lodging; camping fees; guide fees; restaurants and bars; groceries and take-out food; gas and oil; other transportation expenses; admissions, recreation, and entertainment fees; all other purchases; and donations.

For total expenditures in and around the park, 40% of visitor groups spent between $1 and $100 during their visit (see Figure 93). Twenty-one percent of visitors spent $101-200 and 9% spent between $201 and $300. The greatest proportion of expenditures (25%) was for hotels, motels, cabins, etc., as shown in Figure 94.

The average expenditure during the visit was $254. The median visitor group expenditure (50% of groups spent more and 50% of groups spent less) was $115. The average expenditure was $78.

Visitor groups were asked to list how many adults (18 years or older) and children (under 18 years) were covered by their expenditures. Fifty-eight percent of visitor groups had two adults, while 12% had one adult and 12% had three adults (see Figure 95). Figure 96 shows that 42% of groups had one or two children and 20% had three or more children. Thirty-seven percent of groups did not visit with children.