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Contact: Yvonne Menard, 805-658-5725 Ventura, CA – A new National Park Service (NPS) report shows that approximately 250,000 visitors to Channel Islands National Park in 2012 spent nearly $14 million in communities near the park. That spending supported 178 jobs in the local area. "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," said Superintendent Russell Galipeau. "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 Lynne Koontz for the National Park Service.
The report shows $14.7 billion of direct spending by 283 million park visitors in communities within 60 miles of a national park. This spending supported 243,000 jobs nationally, with 201,000 jobs found in these gateway communities, and had a cumulative benefit to the U.S. economy of $26.75 billion.
According to the report most visitor spending supports jobs in restaurants and grocery and convenience stores (39 percent); hotels, motels, and B&Bs (27 percent); and other amusement and recreation (20 percent).
To download the report visit https://www.nature.nps.gov/socialscience/economics.cfm.The report includes information for visitor spending at individual parks and by state.
To learn more about national parks in California and how the National Park Service works with California communities to help preserve local history, conserve the environment, and provide outdoor recreation, go to www.nps.gov/california.
For national park footage visit https://www.nps.gov/news/econ_b-roll.htm
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Last updated: February 28, 2015