Visitor Spending Impacts Local Economy

Date: May 5, 2015
Contact: Joel Cadoff, [phone] X114

Tourism to Fort Pulaski creates $28.9 million in Economic Benefits
Report shows visitor spending supports 351 jobs in local economy

SAVANNAH – A new National Park Service (NPS) report shows that 387,000 visitors to Fort Pulaski National Monument in 2014 spent $23.9 million in communities near the park. That spending supported 351 jobs in the local area and had a cumulative benefit to the local economy of $28.9 million.

“Fort Pulaski National Monument welcomes visitors from across the country and around the world,” said Superintendent Melissa Memory. “We are delighted to share the story of this place and the experiences it provides. We also feature the park as a way to introduce our visitors to the rich history and natural heritage of Coastal Georgia 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 big factor in our local economy as well. We are fortunate to be a part of the thriving heritage tourism industry of Savannah and Tybee Island, and champion the further economic benefits that National Park Service programs such as the National Historic Landmark program and Federal Preservation Tax Incentive program provide to help sustain the economic engine our gateway communities.”

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/socialscience/economics.cfm
The report includes information for visitor spending at individual parks and by state.

To learn more about national parks in Georgia and how the National Park Service works with Georgia communities to help preserve local history, conserve the environment, and provide outdoor recreation, go to www.nps.gov/Georgia.

Fort Pulaski National Monument is located on U.S. Highway 80, 15 miles east of Savannah. For more information, please visit the website of Fort Pulaski National Monument at www.nps.gov/fopu or call [phone]. You can also follow the park on Twitter at www.twitter.com/FortPulaskiNPS or like the official Fort Pulaski National Monument Facebook page at www.facebook.com/FortPulaskiNPS.

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