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Contact: John J. Donahue, 570 428-2418 Contact: Deb Nordeen, 570 425-2432
BUSHKILL, PA - A new National Park Service (NPS) report shows that 5,285,761 visitors in 2010 spent more than $151.2 million in Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area and in communities near the park. That spending supported nearly 2,500 jobs in the local area. "The people and the business owners in communities near national parks have always known the economic value of their parks," Superintendent John Donahue said. "Delaware Water Gap NRA is a clean, green fuel for the engine that drives our local economy." Donahue added, "We believe that a good economic environment in the local area helps enhance the visitor experience and protects resources." Most of the spending/jobs are related to lodging, food, and beverage service (52 percent) followed by other retail (29 percent), entertainment/amusements (10 percent), gas and local transportation (7 percent) and groceries (2 percent). The figures are based on $12 billion of direct spending by 281 million visitors in 394 national parks and nearby communities and are included in an annual, peer-reviewed, visitor spending analysis conducted by Dr. Daniel Stynes of Michigan State University for the National Park Service. Across the U.S, local visitor spending added a total of $31 billion to the national economy and supported more than 258,000 jobs, an increase of $689 million and 11,500 jobs over 2009. To download the report, visit www.nature.nps.gov/socialscience/products.cfm#MGMand click on Economic Benefits to Local Communities from National Park Visitation and Payroll, 2010. The report includes information for visitor spending at individual parks and by state. For more information on how the NPS is working in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, go to www.nps.gov/state/nj and www.nps.gov/state/pa. |
Last updated: April 14, 2015