News Release

Tourism to Cape Cod National Seashore contributes $730 million to local economy

Date: August 28, 2024
Contact: Susan Reece, 508-957-0738

WELLFLEET, MASS – A new National Park Service report shows that 3.8 million visitors to Cape Cod National Seashore in 2023 spent $533 million in communities near the park. That spending supported 6,647 jobs in the local area and had a cumulative benefit to the local economy of $730 million. 

“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.”   

“Cape Cod National Seashore is in partnership with our communities to host visitors from all over the country and the world to experience the special place that is Cape Cod National Seashore,” said Superintendent Jennifer Flynn. “Without the services offered in our towns, the experience our visitors have would be diminished. We are glad to see the economic return to the community that supports the National Seashore.” 

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 Massachusetts and how the National Park Service works with Massachusetts communities to help preserve local history, conserve the environment, and provide outdoor recreation, go to www.nps.gov/Massachusetts.