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Date: February 27, 2013
398 National Park Units Nationwide Contribute $30 billion and 252,000 Jobs to Local Economies
A new National Park Service (NPS) report for 2011 shows that over four million visitors to Yosemite National Park spent over $379 million in communities surrounding the park. This spending supported 5,057 jobs in the local area.
"Yosemite National Park is a wonderful place to visit and view awe-inspiring scenery," said Don Neubacher, Yosemite National Park Superintendent. "We attract visitors from across the U.S. and around the world who come here to experience the park and then spend time and money enjoying the services provided by our neighboring communities and getting to know this spectacular part of the country. The National Park Service is proud to have been entrusted with the care of America's most treasured places and delighted that the visitors we welcome generate significant contributions to the local, state, and national economies."
The information on Yosemite is part of a peer-reviewed spending analysis of national park visitors across the country conducted by Michigan State University for the NPS. 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.
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.)
To download the report visit https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/Reference/Profile/2193324 and click on the download link. The report includes information for visitor spending at individual parks and by state.
To learn more about national parks in California and how the National Park Service works with communities to preserve local history, conserve the environment, and provide local recreation opportunities, go to www.nps.gov/California.
I am an enthusiast and expert in the field of national parks and their economic impact on local communities. My knowledge extends to the comprehensive report conducted by Michigan State University for the National Park Service (NPS) in 2011, which sheds light on the substantial contributions of national parks to both local and national economies.
The report reveals that in 2011, over four million visitors to Yosemite National Park alone spent an impressive $379 million in the communities surrounding the park. This significant spending had a profound impact, supporting 5,057 jobs in the local area. As someone deeply familiar with the subject matter, I can emphasize the importance of Yosemite National Park as a popular destination, attracting visitors not only from across the United States but also from around the world.
The broader analysis, encompassing 398 national park units nationwide, provides compelling evidence of the economic significance of these natural treasures. The report indicates that, in 2011, a total of 279 million park visitors within 60 miles of a national park collectively spent $13 billion in nearby communities. This spending, in turn, had a far-reaching impact on the entire U.S. economy, amounting to $30 billion and supporting an impressive 252,000 jobs nationwide.
Breaking down the visitor spending, the majority (63 percent) went into lodging, food, and beverage services, underscoring the crucial role these sectors play in the economic ecosystem around national parks. Recreation and entertainment followed at 17 percent, with other retail at 11 percent, and transportation and fuel at 7 percent. Wholesale and manufacturing made up the remaining 2 percent.
For those interested in delving deeper into the specifics of the report, it is available for download on the National Park Service's DataStore platform at . This resource offers detailed information on visitor spending at individual parks and breaks down the economic impact by state.
In conclusion, the National Park Service, as highlighted in this report, plays a crucial role in preserving America's most treasured places. Beyond conservation efforts, it actively contributes to local, state, and national economies by fostering tourism and supporting a wide range of industries. If you want to explore more about national parks in California and the collaborative efforts of the National Park Service with local communities, you can visit www.nps.gov/California.
