Economic Impact

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Date: March 4, 2014
Contact: Eileen Andes, 701-623-4466

Report shows visitor spending supports 528 jobs in state's economy

MEDORA, North Dakota – A new National Park Service (NPS) report shows that 669,242 visitors to Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site, Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site, and Theodore Roosevelt National Park in 2012 spent $39.237 million in communities near these parks. That spending supported 528 jobs in the surrounding areas.

"Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site, Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site, and Theodore Roosevelt National Park are proud to welcome visitors from across the country and around the world," said North Dakota Group Superintendent Valerie Naylor. "We are honored to protect and share these scenic and historic parks. National Park tourism is a significant driver in the U.S. economy – returning $10 for every $1 invested in the National Park Service – and it's also a big factor in our local economy.. We appreciate the partnership and support of our neighbors and are glad to be able to give back by helping to sustain local communities."

The peer reviewed spending analysis was conducted by U.S. Geological Survey economists Catherine Cullinane Thomas and Christopher Huber and Lynne Koontz for the National Park Service. The report shows $14.7 billion of direct spending by 283 million park visitors in communities within 60 miles of a national park. This spending supported 243,000 jobs nationally, with 201,000 jobs found in these gateway communities, and had a cumulative benefit to the U.S. economy of $26.75 billion.

According to the report, most visitor spending supports jobs in restaurants, grocery and convenience stores (39 percent); hotels, motels, and B&Bs (27 percent); and other amusement and recreation (20 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 North Dakota and how the National Park Service works with North Dakota communities to help preserve local history, conserve the environment, and provide outdoor recreation, go to www.nps.gov/NORTHDAKOTA.

 www.nps.gov

 About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 401 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Visit us atwww.nps.gov, on Facebookwww.facebook.com/nationalparkservice, Twitterwww.twitter.com/natlparkservice, and YouTubewww.youtube.com/nationalparkservice.



Last updated: April 10, 2015

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