Tourism to Dinosaur National Monument Creates Nearly $17 Million in Economic Benefit

Date: March 3, 2014
Contact: Dan Johnson, Chief of Interpretation & Visitor Services, [phone]

Dinosaur, CO – A new National Park Service (NPS) report shows that 302,858 visitors to Dinosaur National Monument in 2012 spent $16,937,000 in communities near the monument. That spending supported 201 jobs in the local area.

"Dinosaur National Monument is proud to welcome visitors from across the country and around the world," said acting superintendent Mark Foust "We are delighted to share the story of this place and the experiences it provides and to use the monument 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 important 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."

"Since the Quarry Exhibit Hall reopened in October 2011, we have seen our visitation return to more normal levels," stated Foust. "This 2012 report gives us the best indicator of the monument's economic impact on our surrounding communities. We continue to work with our area tourism partners in Uintah County, Utah and Moffat and Rio Blanco counties in Colorado to draw visitors to this amazing area."

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, 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 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 both Colorado and Utah, and how the National Park Service works with Colorado and Utah communities to help preserve local history, conserve the environment, and provide outdoor recreation, go to www.nps.gov/utah or www.nps.gov/colorado.

For more information on Dinosaur National Monument, call us at [phone].