News Release

Tourism to Haleakalā National Park Generates Millions for Local Economies

Date: April 27, 2018
Contact: Polly Angelakis, 808-572-4450

A new National Park Service (NPS) report shows that in 2017, 1.1 million park visitors spent an estimated $69.8 million in the local gateway region while visiting Haleakalā National Park. These expenditures supported a total of 819 jobs, $32.2 million in labor income, $56.3 million in value added, and $89.3 million in economic output in local gateway economies surrounding the park.
                                     
“We are delighted to provide economic benefits to our local communities while sharing the story and experiences of this special place,” said Superintendent Natalie Gates.

The peer-reviewed 2017 Visitor Spending Effects report was researched and developed by economists Catherine Cullinane Thomas of the U.S. Geological Survey and Lynne Koontz of the National Park Service.  
Six million visitors to all national park units in Hawai`i spent more than $400 million in the state in 2017. That spending resulted in nearly 4,890 jobs and had a cumulative benefit to the state economy of $526 million.

Nationally, the report shows $18.2 billion of direct spending by more than 330 million park visitors in communities within 60 miles of a national park. This spending supported 306,000 jobs nationally; 255,900 of those jobs are found in these gateway communities. The cumulative benefit to the U.S. economy was $35.8 billion.


An interactive tool for exploring the report is available at the NPS Social Science Program webpage at go.nps.gov/vse.

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

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