487210 Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water

Official definition

This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in providing scenic and sightseeing transportation on water. The services provided are usually local and involve same-day return to place of origin.

Examples Census gives

• Airboat (i.e., swamp buggy) operation
• Excursion boat operation
• Charter fishing boat services
• Harbor sightseeing tours
• Dinner cruises

Source: US Census Bureau, 2022 NAICS descriptions.

When to use a different code

Census classifies these close-sounding activities somewhere else. Businesses mainly engaged in:

• Providing recreational services, such as fishing guide services (except charter boat), white water rafting, parasailing, and water skiing are classified in Industry 713990, All Other Amusement and Recreation Industries.
• Providing water taxi services are classified in Industry 48321, Inland Water Transportation.
• Providing water transportation of passengers are classified in Subsector 483, Water Transportation.
• Operating floating casinos (i.e., gambling cruises or riverboat casinos) are classified in Industry 713210, Casinos (except Casino Hotels).
• Providing boat rental without operators are classified in U.S. Industry 532284, Recreational Goods Rental.

Source: US Census Bureau, 2022 NAICS cross-references.

Activities listed under 487210

The Census index assigns these 12 activities to this code. If your business matches one, this is your code.

• Airboat (i.e., swamp buggy) operation
• Boat, fishing charter, operation
• Charter fishing boat operation
• Dinner cruises
• Excursion boat operation
• Fishing boat charter operation
• Harbor sightseeing tours
• Hovercraft sightseeing operation
• Scenic and sightseeing excursions, water
• Sightseeing boat operation
• Swamp buggy operation
• Whale watching excursions

Source: US Census Bureau, 2022 NAICS index file.

SBA size standard for 487210

To count as a small business for SBA loans and federal contracts under NAICS 487210, your business (including affiliates) must not exceed $14 million in average annual receipts. Check your business.

Source: SBA table of size standards, effective March 17, 2023.

Closest UK SIC 2007 codes

There is no official one-to-one link between NAICS and UK SIC. These codes share the same international class (ISIC Rev. 4: 5011, 5021), so treat them as a starting point and check the definition.

• 50100Sea and coastal passenger water transportUK SIC
• 50200Sea and coastal freight water transportUK SIC

Built from Census concordances 2022→2017 NAICS and 2017 NAICS→ISIC Rev. 4.