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Contact: Media Contact, Linda Friar, 305-242-7714 Contact: Media Contact, Mary Plumb, 305-242-7017 Contact: General Park Information, 305-242-7700 A new National Park Service (NPS) report shows that 1,110,900 visitors to Everglades National Park in 2014 spent $104,476,500 in communities near the park. That spending supported 1,552 jobs in the local area and had a cumulative benefit to the local economy of $155,544,700.
“Everglades National Park welcomes visitors from across the country and around the world,” said Superintendent Pedro Ramos. “We are delighted to share the story of this place and the experiences it provides. Visiting one of the four units of the National Park Service in south Florida is a great way to introduce this part of the country and all that it offers. National Park Service 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 study also shows that, combined, the four south Florida National Park Service units –Everglades, Biscayne and Dry Tortugas National Parks and Big Cypress National Preserve – had a combined visitation of 2,894,366. The four park units supported a total of 3,380 jobs and generated more than $231 million in the communities within the region.
The peer-reviewed visitor spending analysis was conducted by U.S. Geological Survey economists Catherine Cullinane Thomas and Christopher Huber and National Park Service economist Lynne Koontz. The report shows $15.7 billion of direct spending by 292.8 million park visitors in communities within 60 miles of a national park. This spending supported 277,000 jobs nationally; 235,600 of those jobs are found in these gateway communities. The cumulative benefit to the U.S. economy was $29.7 billion.
According to the 2014 report, most park visitor spending was for lodging (30.6 percent) followed by food and beverages (20.3 percent), gas and oil (11.9 percent), admissions and fees (10.2 percent) and souvenirs and other expenses (9.9 percent). To download the report visit https://www.nature.nps.gov/ The report includes information for visitor spending at individual parks and by state.
To learn more about national parks in Florida and how the National Park Service works with Florida communities to help preserve local history, conserve the environment, and provide outdoor recreation, go towww.nps.gov/florida. |
Last updated: April 24, 2015