Flagstaff Area National Monuments Tourism Creates $27 Million in Economic Benefit

Date: March 1, 2013
Contact: Cecilia Shields, 928-526-1157 x228

New report shows visitor spending supports 367 jobs in Arizona

FLAGSTAFF, ARIZONA - A new National Park Service (NPS) report shows that 526,433 visitors in 2011 to the Flagstaff Area National Monuments spent $27,820,000 in surrounding communities, supporting 367 jobs in the local area.

"Sunset Crater Volcano, Walnut Canyon, and Wupatki National Monuments are wonderful places to visit and learn more about the natural and cultural histories of ancient times," said Acting Park Superintendent Leah McGinnis. "These National Monuments are three of our nation's treasures that attract visitors from across the U.S. and around the world, who come here to immerse themselves in the geology, ecology and archeology of the area. People who live and work in nearby communities are invested in these monuments. Whether they visit the park, own or work at a business that serves local or long distance visitors or provides services for the park and our employees, the money visitors spend has a positive economic impact on our local and our national economy."

The peer-reviewed visitor spending analysis was conducted by Yue Cui, Ed Mahoney, and Teresa Herbowicz of Michigan State University for the National Park Service. The report shows $13 billion of direct spending by 279 national park visitors. The spending occurred in communities within 60 miles of a national park and supported 252,000 jobs, most of which are also in the communities near national parks. The visitor spending had a $30 billion impact on the entire U.S. economy.

According to the report, most visitor spending supports jobs in lodging, food, and beverage service (63 percent) followed recreation and entertainment (17 percent), other retail (11 percent), transportation and fuel (7 percent) and wholesale and manufacturing (2 percent). 

To learn more about the economic benefits of visitor spending at individual parks and by state, you can download the report athttp://www.nature.nps.gov/socialscience/products.cfm#MGM and click on Economic Benefits to Local Communities from National Park Visitation, 2011.
 
To learn more about national parks in Arizona and how the National Park Service works with communities in Arizona to help preserve local history, conserve the environment, and provide outdoor recreation, go to http://www.nps.gov/arizona

-NPS-