Analysis
NAICS 487110 is the 2022 national industry for scenic and sightseeing transportation, land, part of 48711 (Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Land). Census lists 16 example activities under it in the official index.
County Business Patterns counts 727 US establishments in this code in 2023, employing 9,244 people at an average annual payroll of $45,755 per employee (13th percentile of national industries). 59% of the establishments have fewer than five employees, which is close to the national mix.
Census lists 6 related activities that belong elsewhere, most often in 487990, 713990, 485210 and 485510. Businesses that do several things are classified by their primary activity, the one that generates the most value, so check those boundaries before settling on this code.
Its index entries, the activities Census uses to assign businesses to this code, include buses, scenic and sightseeing operation, cable car, land, scenic and sightseeing operation, carriage, horse-drawn, operation and cog railway, scenic and sightseeing, operation, among 16 in all.
For example, operating aerial trams or aerial cable cars are classified in 487990 (Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Other) instead.
Between 2018 and 2023 the number of establishments fell 4% and employment fell 21%. The 2018 count used NAICS 2017, so part of a large move can come from codes being redefined rather than from businesses opening or closing.
Official definition
This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in providing scenic and sightseeing transportation on land, such as sightseeing buses and trolleys, steam train excursions, and horse-drawn sightseeing rides. The services provided are usually local and involve same-day return to place of origin.
Source: US Census Bureau, NAICS 2022 Manual.
Not this code if…
| The business mainly does | Use instead |
|---|---|
| Operating aerial trams or aerial cable cars | 487990 Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Other |
| Providing sporting services, such as recreational pack trains and horseback riding | 713990 All Other Amusement and Recreation Industries |
| Providing intercity and rural bus transportation | 485210 Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation |
| Providing buses for charter | 485510 Charter Bus Industry |
| Operating local and suburban passenger transit systems | 48511 Urban Transit Systems |
| Providing travel arrangement and reservation services and arranging and assembling tours | 5615 Travel Arrangement and Reservation Services |
Index entries (16)
- Buses, scenic and sightseeing operation
- Cable car, land, scenic and sightseeing operation
- Carriage, horse-drawn, operation
- Cog railway, scenic and sightseeing, operation
- Horse-drawn carriage operation
- Monorail, scenic and sightseeing, operation
- Railroad transportation, scenic and sightseeing
- Railroad, scenic and sightseeing, operation
- Railway transportation, scenic and sightseeing
- Scenic and sightseeing excursions, land
- Sightseeing bus operation
- Sightseeing operation, human-drawn vehicle
- Steam train excursions
- Tour bus, scenic and sightseeing, operation
- Tracked vehicle sightseeing operation
- Trolley, scenic and sightseeing, operation