News Release

Tourism to Southeast Utah national parks contributes over $486M to local economies

News Release Date: September 3, 2024

Contact: SEUG Public Affairs, 435-260-0713

MOAB, UTAH – A new National Park Service report shows that 2.4 million visitors to national parks of the Southeast Utah Group in 2023 spent $397.6 million in communities near the four parks. That spending supported 5,122 jobs in this region and had a cumulative benefit to local economies of $486.1 million.

Park-specific metrics include:

• Arches National Park's 1.5 million visitors in 2023 spent an estimated $283 million in local gateway communities, which supported a total of 3,650 jobs, $116 million in labor income, $194 million in value added, and $346 million in economic output overall.
• Canyonlands National Park's 800 thousand visitors in 2023 spent an estimated $106 million, which supported 1,370 jobs, $42.8 million in labor income, $72.4 million in value added, and $130 million in economic output for gateway communities.
• Hovenweep National Monument's over 35 thousand visitors in 2023 spent an estimated $2.6 million, which supported 32 jobs, $960 thousand in labor income, $1.7 million in value added, and $3.1 million in economic output.
• Natural Bridges National Monument’s nearly 84 thousand visitors in 2023 spent an estimated $6 million, which supported around 70 jobs, $2.3 million in labor income, $4.0 million in value added, and $7.0 million in economic output.

“I’m so proud that our parks and the stories we tell make a lasting impact on more than 300 million visitors a year,” said National Park Service Director Chuck Sams. “And I’m just as proud to see those visitors making positive impacts of their own, by supporting local economies and jobs in every state in the country.” 

"Southeast Utah parks aren't close to any major cities, so when people visit they tend to spend at least a few hours if not a few days in the nearby communities," said Superintendent Lena Pace. "That translates to real support of local economies and partner organizations, and we're proud to be a part of that."

The National Park Service report, 2023 National Park Visitor Spending Effects, finds that 325.5 million visitors spent $26.4 billion in communities near national parks. This spending supported 415,400 jobs, provided $19.4 billion in labor income and $55.6 in economic output to the U.S. economy. The lodging sector had the highest direct contributions with $9.9 billion in economic output and 89,200 jobs. The restaurants received the next greatest direct contributions with $5.2 billion in economic output and 68,600 jobs.

An interactive tool is available to explore visitor spending, jobs, labor income, and total economic contribution by sector for national, state and local economies. Users can also view year-by-year trend data. The interactive tool and report are available on the NPS website. 

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