Tourism to Zion National Park, Cedar Breaks National Monument, and Pipe Spring National Monuments Created $175.5 Million in Economic Benefit in 2013

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Date: July 22, 2014
Contact: Aly Baltrus (ZION), 435-772-0160
Contact: Daphne Sewing (CEBR), 435-586-9451
Contact: John Hiscock (PISP), 928-643-7329

Springdale, Utah; Cedar City, Utah; Fredonia, Arizona – A new National Park Service (NPS) report shows that 3,324,956 visitors to Zion National Park, and Cedar Breaks and Pipe Spring National Monuments in 2013 spent $175,580,200 in communities near the park. That spending supported 2,155 jobs in the local area.

“Zion National Park is truly a world destination. It has become a hub where people begin their vacations then branch out to experience the many other area attractions,” said Zion Acting Superintendent Cindy Purcell, “Local communities help enhance the visitor experience by providing restaurant, lodging, and guiding services. For every $1 invested in the National Park Service, visitor spending creates a return rate of $10.” Zion’s visitation generated an estimated $147,000,000 and 1,763 jobs for local communities.

“National Park tourism is a significant driver of the national, state, and local economies. Cedar Breaks National Monument, located adjacent to Brianhead, UT and near Cedar City, UT, provides recreational opportunities for locals and visitors alike,” said Monument Superintendent Paul Roelandt. “We value the support of our neighbors and our partnerships and are pleased that we play a role in helping to sustain small businesses in our nearby communities. Visitors to Cedar Breaks brought in an estimated $25,710,600 and 353 jobs to the local area in 2013.”

John Hiscock, Superintendent of Pipe Spring National Monument, stated, “Pipe Spring is a small and historically important site located between Zion and the Grand Canyon National Parks.” In 2013, Pipe Spring generated an estimated $2,817,700.00 and 39 jobs for local communities, based on visitation of 51,118 people. “Visitation to the Monument, and economic and job benefits to the local communities remained relatively close to 2012 levels, but do appear to have been affected by the 16 day Federal government shutdown of Pipe Spring in the fall of 2013.” 

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 $14.6 billion of direct spending by 273.6 million park visitors in communities within 60 miles of a national park. This spending supported more than 237,000 jobs nationally, with more than 197,000 jobs found in these gateway communities, and had a cumulative benefit to the U.S. economy of $26.5 billion. The report includes information for visitor spending at individual parks and by state.

According to the 2013 economic analysis, most visitor spending was for lodging (30.3 percent) followed by food and beverages (27.3 percent), gas and oil (12.1 percent), admissions and fees (10.3 percent) and souvenirs and other expenses (10 percent).

The largest jobs categories supported by visitor spending were restaurants (50,000 jobs) and lodging (38,000 jobs).


 



Last updated: August 21, 2021

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