Date: March 3, 2014
Contact: Michael Madell, Superintendent, 601-619-2902
VICKSBURG, MISSISSIPPI – A new National Park Service (NPS) report shows that 573,252 visitors to Vicksburg National Military Park in 2012 spent $30.8 million in communities near the park. That spending supported 454 jobs in the local area.
“Vicksburg National Military Park is proud to welcome visitors from across the country and around the world,” said Superintendent Michael Madell. “We are delighted to share the story of this place and the experiences it provides and to use the park 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 economic – 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.”
The peer-reviewed visitor spending analysis was conducted by U.S. Geological Survey economists Catherine Cullinane Thomas, 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 conveniences 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.
B-roll footage that can be used in reporting this story can be found at: https://www.nps.gov/news/econ_b-roll.htm
To learn more about national parks in Mississippi and how the National Park Service works with Mississippi communities to help preserve local history, conserve the environment, and provide outdoor recreation, go to www.nps.gov/mississippi. Similar information about the National Park Service in Louisiana can be found at www.nps.gov/louisiana.
