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Contact: Everglades and Dry Tortugas National Parks, Allyson Gantt, 305-242-7714 Contact: Biscayne National Park, Matt Johnson, 786-335-3679 Contact: Big Cypress National Preserve, Bob DeGross, 239-695-1107
HOMESTEAD, Florida –A new National Park Service report shows that nearly 3 million visitors to the National Park Service areas in south Florida spent $227 million last year in surrounding communities. That spending supported over 3,248 jobs in south Florida. Pedro Ramos, Superintendent of Everglades and Dry Tortugas National Parks said, "We invite everyone to visit their National Parks, especially during our centennial celebration this year. Come celebrate the past 100 years of these glorious places that have been set aside for all generations, as we look forward to the next 100 years. Your visit will also be contributing to an important economic engine for the local, state, and national economy." The four units of the National Park Service in south Florida are Big Cypress National Preserve, and Everglades, Biscayne, and Dry Tortugas National Parks. In Everglades National Park, 1.1 million visitors spent over $103 million and supported 1521 jobs in surrounding communities. In Dry Tortugas National Park, 70,862 visitors spent over $4.2 million and supported 52 jobs in surrounding communities. Park tourism is a significant driver in the national economy as well, returning $10 for every $1 invested in the NPS. 307 million national park visitors spent $16.9 billion in nearby communities. This spending supported 295,000 jobs nationally and mostly in gateway communities. The cumulative benefit to the U.S. economy was $32 billion. Park visitor spending was for lodging, food, beverages, fuel, admissions, fees and souvenirs. The peer-reviewed visitor spending analysis was conducted by economists Catherine Cullinane Thomas of the U.S. Geological Survey and Lynne Koontz of the NPS. It includes anewinteractive tool and information for visitor spending at individual parks and by state. The report is available at the NPS Social Science Program webpage at go.nps.gov/vse. To learn more about national parks in Florida and how the NPS works with Florida communities to help preserve local history, conserve the environment and provide outdoor recreation, go to nps.gov/florida. More information about Everglades and Dry Tortugas National Parks can be found on the park websites: https://www.nps.gov/drto/ -NPS- |
Last updated: April 26, 2016