Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore Tourism Creates $60 million in Local Economic Benefit

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Date: February 26, 2013
Contact: Bruce Rowe, 219-395-1609

Part of $30 billion impact that supports 252,000 jobs nationwide

INDIANA DUNES NATIONAL LAKESHORE: In 2012, Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore had 1,889,381 visitors who spent close to $60 million in the communities around the national lakeshore. That spending supported more than 800 jobs in the local area. Figures for 2011 show a similar trend.

"People value the national lakeshore for its scenery, recreation and historic properties," park superintendent Constantine Dillon said. "Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore is also an economic asset to Northwest Indiana. Surveys indicate 80% of visitors come from outside the immediate area and 60% of park visitors come from outside the state," added Dillon, "that's money being added to the regional economy."

Most visitor spending supports jobs in lodging, food, and beverage service (63 percent) followed by recreation and entertainment (17 percent), other retail (11 percent), transportation and fuel (7 percent) and wholesale and manufacturing (2 percent.)

The information on Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore is part of a peer-reviewed spending analysis of national park visitors across the country conducted by Michigan State University for the National Park Service. For 2011, that report shows $13 billion of direct spending by 279 million park visitors in communities within 60 miles of a national park. That visitor spending had a $30 billion impact on the entire U.S. economy and supported 252,000 jobs nationwide.

Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore employs 100 people year-round and hires an additional 100 people for the summer season. These employees live locally, own homes, shop, and pay taxes in the Northwest Indiana region. Direct spending by Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore is about $10 million a year paying salaries, buying local goods and services, and hiring local contractors.

To download the report visit www.nature.nps.gov/socialscience/products.cfm#MGM and click on Economic Benefits to Local Communities from National Park Visitation, 2011. The report includes information for visitor spending at individual parks and by state.

www.nps.gov/indu

Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore is part of the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 398 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov.



Last updated: April 10, 2015

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Mailing Address:

1100 North Mineral Springs Road
Porter, IN 46304

Phone:

219 395-1882
Indiana Dunes Visitor Center phone number.

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