Missouri National Recreational River Tourism Creates $6,105,300 in Local Economic Benefit

Date: April 26, 2017
Contact: Rick Clark, 605-665-0209

Yankton, South Dakota–A new National Park Service (NPS) report shows that 145,004 visitors to the Missouri National Recreational River in 2015 spent $6,105,300 in communities near the park. That spending supported 97 jobs in the local area and had a cumulative benefit to the local economy of $7,089,900.

"Missouri National Recreational River welcomes visitors from across the country and around the world," said Superintendent Rick Clark. "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 this part of the country 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 appreciate the partnership and support of our neighbors and are glad to be able to give back by helping to sustain local communities within the 98-mile river corridor from Pickstown, SD to Ponca, Ne. that encompasses the parks boundaries."

The peer-reviewed visitor spending analysis was conducted by economists Catherine Cullinane Thomas of the U.S. Geological Survey and Lynne Koontz of the National Park Service.  The report shows $16.9 billion of direct spending by 307.2 million park visitors in communities within 60 miles of a unit included within the national park system. This spending supported 295,000 jobs nationally;252,000 of those jobs are found in these gateway communities. The cumulative benefit to the U.S. economy was $32 billion.

According to the 2015 report, most park visitor spending, nationally was for lodging (31.1 percent) followed by food and beverages (20.2 percent), gas and oil (11.8 percent), admissions and fees (10.2 percent) and souvenirs and other expenses (9.8 percent).

To download the report visit go.nps.gov/vse.

The report includes information for visitor spending at individual parks and by state.

To learn more about national parks, including the Missouri National Recreational River and how the National Park Service works with South Dakota communities to help preserve local history, conserve the environment, and provide outdoor recreation, go to www.nps.gov/SOUTHDAKOTA.