ALPENA – This summer, the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation (NMSF) and West Virginia University (WVU) are launching a collaborative study to measure the impact of recreation and tourism in Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary (TBNMS) communities.

Researchers will be active throughout northeast Michigan–from Rogers City to Harrisville–surveying residents and visitors at parks, marinas, museums, and beaches. The team aims to understand why people visit the sanctuary, which cultural and recreational resources they value most, and how their spending supports the regional economy.

By better understanding water-related recreation and heritage tourism, the NMSF and WVU will be able to track the sanctuary’s economic contribution to northeast Michigan. These insights will help TBNMS tailor programming and marketing to better serve its coastal communities, while providing local government and organizations with data to support economic development efforts.

Study findings will be made public and shared with state and regional development partners to help strengthen the vibrant recreation and tourism landscape of northeast Michigan.