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Contact: Greg Shine, Chief Ranger & Historian, 360-816-6231 Contact: Tracy Fortmann, Superintendent, 360-816-6205
VANCOUVER, WA –A new National Park Service (NPS) report shows that 803,739 visitors to Fort Vancouver National Historic Site in 2014 spent over $45 million in communities near the park. That spending supported 766 jobs in the local area and had a cumulative benefit to the local economy of $64.8 million. These numbers are all increases over those reported in 2013 and 2012. "Fort Vancouver National Historic Site welcomes visitors from across the country and around the world," said Superintendent Tracy Fortmann. "We are delighted to share the story of this place and the experiences it provides. Fort Vancouver is also a gateway park to many other national parks in the West, and we feature it as a way to introduce our visitors to this part of the country and all that it offers. National park tourism is a significant driver in the national economy, returning $10 for every $1 invested in the National Park Service, and it's a big factor in our local economy as well. We appreciate the partnership and support of our neighbors and are glad to be able to give back by helping to sustain local communities." "Our community is in a very unique position to have a national park in our own backyard—especially one as dedicated to hands-on learning and the preservation of our local culture as Fort Vancouver," said Kim Bennett, President and CEO of Visit Vancouver USA, the official destination marketing organization for Vancouver USA and the surrounding areas. "The attractions, history and people of Fort Vancouver National Historic Site all create a welcoming and enticing environment for visitors to our destination." The peer-reviewed visitor spending analysis was conducted by U.S. Geological Survey economists Catherine Cullinane Thomas and Christopher Huber and National Park Service economist Lynne Koontz. The report shows $15.7 billion of direct spending by 292.8 million park visitors in communities within 60 miles of a national park. This spending supported 277,000 jobs nationally; 235,600 of those jobs are found in these gateway communities. The cumulative benefit to the U.S. economy was $29.7 billion. According to the 2014 report, most park visitor spending was for lodging (30.6 percent) followed by food and beverages (20.3 percent), gas and oil (11.9 percent), admissions and fees (10.2 percent) and souvenirs and other expenses (9.9 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 Washington and Oregon and how the National Park Service works with Washington and Oregon communities to help preserve local history, conserve the environment, and provide outdoor recreation, go to www.nps.gov/Oregon and www.nps.gov/Washington. |
Last updated: April 24, 2015