Tourism to Fire Island National Seashore Creates $11,952,500 in Economic Benefit

Date: August 1, 2014
Contact: Kathy Krause, 631-687-4772

Patchogue, New York - A new National Park Service (NPS) report shows that 294,219 visitors to Fire Island National Seashore in 2013 spent almost $12 million in communities near the park. That spending supported 127 jobs in the area.

"Fire Island National Seashore welcomes visitors from the greater New York metropolitan area as well as from across the country and around the world," Superintendent Chris Soller said. "Fire Island is a special place that has a long and rich history. Known for its beautiful beaches, it also provides wonderful opportunities for nature study, walking through the only federally designated wilderness in New York State or learning about Long Island's maritime history."

National park tourism is a significant driver in the national economy –returning $10 for every $1 invested in the National Park Service. Tourism is also a big factor in local economies. Soller also stated that "the figures reported in this study only account for visitors to National Park Service facilities on Fire Island. Within the boundary of the Seashore are 17 residential communities as well as other public sites such as Smith Point County Park. Those areas, in addition to National Seashore facilities, generate substantial benefits over and above those identified in the report, further highlighting the importance Fire Island National Seashore and its diverse resources, communities and facilities play in supporting Long Island's economy." 

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 $14.6 billion of direct spending by 273.6 million park visitors in communities within 60 miles of a national park.  This spending supported more than 237,000 jobs nationally, with more than 197,000 jobs found in these gateway communities, and had a cumulative benefit to the U.S. economy of $26.5 billion.

According to the 2013 economic analysis, most visitor' spending was for lodging (30.3 percent) followed by food and beverages (27.3 percent), gas and oil (12.1 percent), admissions and fees (10.3 percent) and souvenirs and other expenses (10 percent). The largest job categories supported by visitor spending were restaurants and bars (50,000 jobs) and lodging (38,000 jobs).

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 New York State and how the National Park Service works with New York communities to help preserve local history, conserve the environment, and provide outdoor recreation, go towww.nps.gov/NewYork.

About the National Park Service: More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 401 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more atwww.nps.gov.

For more information about Fire Island National Seashore please visitwww.nps.gov/fiis.