Attracting over 100,000 Visitors
The Jacksonville Aquarium has the potential of impacting 100,000 visitors through education. By calculating from other aquariums in Florida and in similar sized city’s on the east coast and scaling for our square footage and total gallons we found that 100,000 visitors is a conservative estimate to the guest that the aquarium would welcome. Approximately 59% of those visitors would be K-12 students. This provides the aquarium a unique opportunity to reach children and students to teach about conservation and the marine world.
Estimates put 35% of visitors being tourist from outside of Jacksonville. This would have a impact of $11,844,000 to the Jacksonville economy.
One goal of the Jacksonville Aquarium is to become Jacksonville’s second AZA accredited facility. AZA (Association of Zoos and Aquariums) ensures accredited facilities meet higher standards of animal care than required by law. It is also seen as a gold standard for facilities. This would make Jacksonville one of 17 cities (As of 5/25/23) with an accredited zoo and aquarium. The current are as follows:
- San Francisco
- San Diego
- Denver
- Tampa
- Orlando
- Atlanta
- Chicago
- New Orleans
- Baltimore
- Boston
- Kansas City
- New York
- Chattanooga
- Dallas
- Houston
- San Antonio
- Seattle
All of which are major travel hubs and destinations. Adding a second AZA facility to Jacksonville will help build the city as a more concrete travel hub for travelers nationally and internationally.
Projected numbers
- Attendance projections of 90,000-150,000 visitors annually
- Revenue of $3,000,000 per fiscal year
- Operating budget of $2,500,000
- $300,000 going directly to conservation work in Florida
- Creation of 45 jobs and total of $1,750,000 in wages
- $11,844,000 of new income to the Jacksonville area through tourism
Goals Impacting Jacksonville
Goal: Open a state of the art aquarium in Jacksonville
- Bring awareness to the public to help them understand the natural habitats around them and across the world
- Increase conservation of our natural waterways throughout the St. Johns Water Management District
- Become Jacksonville’s second AZA accredited facility
- Bring in tourist to the city and grow it as a travel destination
- Become a premier part of educating and research in Jacksonville
- Use interactive exhibits to foster a love for the ocean