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Contact: Visitor Center, 435-425-4111
A new National Park Service (NPS) report shows that 786,515 visitors to Capitol Reef National Park in 2014 spent $54,427,500.00 in communities near the park. That spending supported 776 jobs in the local area and had a cumulative benefit to the local economy of $61,895,300.00. "Capitol Reef welcome visitors from across the country and around the world," said Superintendent Leah McGinnis. "We are delighted to share the story of this park and the experiences it provides. We also feature 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 economy, 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 and Christopher Huber and National Park Service economist Lynne Koontz. The report shows $15.7 billion of direct spending by 292.8 million park visitors in communities within 60 miles of a national park. This spending supported 277,000 jobs nationally; 235,600 of those jobs are found in the gateway communities. The cumulative benefit to the U.S. economy was $29.7 billion. According to the 2014 report, most park visitor spending was for lodging (30.6 percent) followed by food and beverages (20.3 percent), gas and oil (11.9 percent), admissions and fees (10.2 percent), and souvenirs and other expenses (9.9 percent). To download the report, visit https://www.nature.nps.gov/socialscience/economics.cfm 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. |
Last updated: February 14, 2019