DALLAS — The Dallas Zoo said a new economic impact study found that every $1 the City of Dallas invests in the zoo generates $18 in economic activity as city officials consider reducing funding for partner organizations.
The study, commissioned by the zoo and conducted by Tourism Economics and Canopy Strategic Partners, projects the zoo will generate $3.22 billion in business sales between fiscal years 2025 and 2036, averaging $268.7 million annually.
Researchers estimated the impact using spending from zoo operations and nonlocal visitors, projecting 14.5 million visits over the 12-year period, or about 1.2 million annually. The study expects 77% of visitors to come from outside Dallas, generating spending on hotels, restaurants, retail, entertainment and transportation.
The report also projects an average of 1,842 full- and part-time jobs annually and nearly $370 million in total tax revenue over the study period, including federal, state and local taxes.
The findings come as Dallas faces a budget shortfall exceeding $30 million. City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert has proposed a 3% reduction in stipends for partner organizations, including the Dallas Zoo.
Under a public-private partnership established in 2009, Dallas Zoo Management Inc. operates the zoo while the city provides a management fee to help maintain the 111-acre campus, more than 150 city-owned facilities and more than 2,000 animals.
The study also assumes future attendance growth driven by the planned Safari Trail expansion, a 15-acre project supported by $26.5 million approved by Dallas voters through the 2024 bond program. Zoo officials say the expansion is expected to attract more visitors and boost economic activity.