News Release

National Park Visitor Spending Contributed $40 Billion to U.S. Economy

Ranger Led Kayak tour through Assateague's marsh
Kayak tour paddles through Assateague Island National Seashore's marsh.

NPS Photo

News Release Date: May 23, 2019

Contact: NewsMedia@nps.gov

Report Finds 2018 Spending Supported 329,000 jobs in Hotels, Restaurants, Transportation, Recreation


WASHINGTON – As the summer vacation and travel seasons opens, U.S. Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt announced today that visitor spending in communities near national parks in 2018 resulted in a $40.1 billion benefit to the nation’s economy and supported 329,000 jobs.
 
According to the annual National Park Service report, 2018 National Park Visitor Spending Effects, more than 318 million visitors spent $20.2 billion in communities within 60 miles of a park in the National Park System. Of the 329,000 jobs supported by visitor spending, more than 268,000 jobs exist in the park gateway communities.
 
“This report emphasizes the tremendous impact the national parks have on our nation’s economy and underscores the need to fulfill President Trump's plan to rebuild park infrastructure,” said Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt. “With 419 sites, and at least one in every state, our national parks continue to provide visitors, both local and destination, with innumerous recreational, inspirational, and world-class experiences.”
 
“National parks with their iconic natural, cultural and historic landscapes represent the heart and soul of America,” said National Park Service Deputy Director P. Daniel Smith. “They are also a vital part of our nation’s economy, especially for park gateway communities where millions of visitors each year find a place to sleep and eat, hire outfitters and guides and make use of other local services that help drive a vibrant tourism and outdoor recreation industry.”
 
Economic benefits from visitor spending increased by $2 billion and total output increased by $4.3 billion in comparison to 2017.
 
As a part of the report, visitor surveys were conducted at 19 parks with the results indicating that people spent more time in the parks, stayed longer in gateway communities and spent more money during their visits.
 
Visitation varies across the National Park System, from big parks like Blue Ridge Parkway to Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site in Montana. Blue Ridge attracted 14.6 million people who spent more than $1 billion and supported more than 15,900 jobs. Grant-Kohrs Ranch drew more than 26,000 visitors who spent more than $1.5 million in the area and supported 25 local jobs.
 
Lodging expenses account for the largest share of visitor spending totaling nearly $6.8 billion in 2018. Food expenses are the second largest spending area with visitors spending $4 billion in restaurants and bars and another $1.4 billion at grocery and convenience stores.
 
The peer-reviewed economics report was prepared by economists Catherine Cullinane Thomas and Egan Cornachione of the U.S. Geological Survey and Lynne Koontz of the National Park Service. It includes information by parks and by states on visitor spending, the number of jobs supported by visitor spending and other statistics.
 
Report authors also produce an interactive tool that enables users to explore visitor spending, jobs, labor income, value added, and output effects by sector for national, state, and local economies. Users can also view annual, trend data.
 
For more state-by-state information about national parks and how the National Park Service is working with communities, go to http://www.nps.gov/[statename], for example: http://www.nps.gov/virginia.
 
National Park Visitor Spending Contributions to the U.S. Economy 2012-18
 

 

Visitation

Visitor Spending

Jobs Supported

Local Jobs

Total Output

2012

282,765,682

$14.7 billion

242,712

201,040

$26.8 billion

2013

273,630,895

$14.6 billion

237,599

197,343

$26.5 billion

2014

292,800,082

$15.7 billion

276,960

235,600

$29.7 billion

2015

307,247,252

$16.9 billion

295,339

252,030

$32 billion

2016

330,971,689

$18.4 billion

318,000

271,544

$34.9 billion

2017

330,882,751

$18.2 billion

306,000

255,900

$35.8 billion

2018

318,211,833

$20.2 billion

329,000

268,195

$40.1 billion

 

www.nps.gov

About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 419 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, and on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube @nationalparkservice. #FindYourPark



Last updated: May 23, 2019