Tourism to Craters of the Moon creates $6.3 million in economic benefit

campers

Dave Clark

News Release Date: March 3, 2014

Contact: Ted Stout, 208-527-1330

Arco, Idaho – A new National Park Service (NPS) report shows that 197,529 visitors to Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve in 2012 spent $6.3 million in communities near the park. That spending supported 91 jobs in the local area. 

"Craters of the Moon welcomes visitors from across the country and around the world," said superintendent Dan Buckley. "We are delighted to share the story of this special place and to introduce our visitors to this part of Idaho 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 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 which had a cumulative benefit to the U.S. economy of $26.75 billion.

According to the report most visitor spending supports jobs in restaurants, 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 Idaho and how the National Park Service works with Idaho communities to help preserve local history, conserve the environment, and provide outdoor recreation, go to https://www.nps.gov/idaho.

B-roll footage available at the following link:
https://www.nps.gov/news/econ_b-roll.htm