Tourism to Fire Island National Seashore creates $19,258,500 in Economic Benefit

Date: March 7, 2014
Contact: Kathy Krause, 631-687-4772

Patchogue, New York – A new National Park Service (NPS) report shows that 483,334 visitors to Fire Island National Seashore in 2012 spent $19+ million in communities near the park. That spending supported 206 jobs in the local area.

"Fire Island National Seashore welcomes visitors from the greater New York metropolitan area as well as from across the country and around the world," said Christopher Soller, Superintendent of the National Seashore. "Fire Island is a special place that has a long and rich history that we share with our visitors. It provides wonderful opportunities for recreation and relaxation, whether walking through woodlands in the only designated federal wilderness in New York State or sunbathing and swimming on one of Fire Island's many beautiful beaches."

National park tourism is a significant driver in the national economy – returning $10 for every $1 invested in the National Park Service. It is also a big factor in local economies. Soller also stated that "the figures reported in this study only account for visitors to National Park Service facilities on Fire Island. Within the boundary of the Seashore are 17 residential communities as well as other public sites such as Smith Point County Park. Those areas, in addition to National Seashore facilities, generate substantial benefits over and above those identified in the report further highlighting the importance Fire Island National Seashore and its diverse elements play in supporting Long Island's economy."

The peer-reviewed visitor spending analysis was conducted by U.S. Geological Survey economists Catherine Cullinane Thomas and Christopher Huber and Lynne Koontz for the National Park Service. The report shows $14.7 billion of direct spending by 283 million park visitors in communities within 60 miles of a national park. This spending supported 243,000 jobs nationally, with 201,000 jobs found in these gateway communities, and had a cumulative benefit to the U.S. economy of $26.75 billion.

According to the report most visitor spending supports jobs in restaurants, grocery and convenience stores (39 percent), hotels, motels and B&Bs (27 percent), and other amusement and recreation (20 percent).

To download the report visit:https://www.nature.nps.gov/socialscience/economics.cfm

The report includes information for visitor spending at individual parks and by state.

To learn more about national parks in New York and how the National Park Service works with New York communities to help preserve local history, conserve the environment, and provide outdoor recreation, go to www.nps.gov/NewYork.