Visitation to Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park creates $136,838,700 in economic benefits

Ranger giving Life on the Edge talk at Jaggar Museum
Park Ranger Dean Gallagher gives the "Life on the Edge" talk to visitors along the Jaggar Museum observation deck in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park.

NPS Photo/Janice Wei

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News Release Date: April 23, 2015

Contact: Jessica Ferracane/Public Affairs Specialist, 808-345-4216

Hawaii National Park, Hawai'i – A new National Park Service (NPS) report shows that 1,693,005 visitors to Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park in 2014 spent $136,838,700 in communities near the park. That spending supported 1,672 jobs on island, and had a cumulative benefit to the local community of $170,878,000.

The park's 2014 visitation is up 6.9 percent from 2013 (1,583,209 visitors), and reflects a steady and rising trend of visitation to Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park since 2009. The park, which celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2016, shares two of earth's most active volcanoes, the Hawaiian culture, and its native biodiversity with local residents and visitors.

"It's heartening to again report an increase in both visitation to Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park and the significant economic impact park visitors have by spending money and creating jobs in our local community," said Park Superintendent Cindy Orlando. "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 clearly 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," Orlando said.

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 Hawai'i and how the National Park Service works with Hawai'i communities to help preserve local history, conserve the environment, and provide outdoor recreation, go to www.nps.gov/hawaii.

-NPS-



Last updated: April 23, 2015

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