Did you RV in a national park last year? You may be able to pat yourself on the back—you’ve helped the country’s economy. So say the latest statistics that indicate the national parks pumped up the U.S. economy at record-setting levels.
National parks pumped up the U.S. economy—$55.6 billion
Today the National Park Service released a new report on the parks and the economy. It finds visitor spending in communities near national parks in 2023 resulted in a record-high $55.6 billion, benefitting the nation’s economy and supporting 415,400 jobs.
“This report illustrates the significant economic benefits national parks provide to nearby communities and the U.S. economy, and the value of our work to safeguard these public lands in the wake of the climate crisis, upgrade visitor experiences, and invest in park infrastructure and staff,” said Interior Secretary Deb Haaland in a news release.
325.5 million visitors brought billions to local economies
The National Park Service report, 2023 National Park Visitor Spending Effects, finds that 325.5 million visitors spent $26.4 billion in communities near national parks. This spending supported 415,400 jobs, provided $19.4 billion in labor income, and $55.6 in economic output to the U.S. economy.
The lodging sector had the highest direct contributions with $9.9 billion in economic output and 89,200 jobs. Restaurants received the next greatest direct contributions with $5.2 billion in economic output and 68,600 jobs.
Results from the visitor spending effects report series are available online via an interactive tool. Users can view year-by-year trend data and explore current year visitor spending, jobs, labor income, value-added, and economic output effects by sector for national, state and local economies.
The annual peer-reviewed economics report was prepared by economists from the National Park Service. Click here to learn more about how NPS-managed lands and programs provide economic benefits.
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Thank you, Russ and Tina! 🙂 Hmm, … interesting. That is a lot of spending to move from wherever those people live to the vicinities of national parks. This sort of study always amazes and puzzles me. It is as if were the national parks non-existent, then none of this spending would happen. That the money would get burned, disappear, never get spent, … ever. Crazy. 🤔😯 Thanks again, Russ and Tina! 🙂 Have a great day, safe travels, and safe stays! 🙂
Exactly. This report is pure spin and not actual spin however by Russ and Tina, who are merely the delivery mechanism thru this forum. Does this mean that the 818,000 non-existant jobs that were part of the jobs report lies by the Department of Labor the past couple of years, which never existed at all, can somehow now be offset by these 415,000 jobs in that DOL reduction revision? Great spin, cut that bad revision right in half if you can get people to fall for this.
Well stated Neal.
Surely the same data can extrapolate how many jobs were lost where the tourists live because they created jobs and an economy in a National Park. Heck maybe all those towns can demand Federal money for all the jobs the administration is bragging about taking.
Election year spin….(smh)
Thank you, Vince S! 🙂 Yes, they just might. Would be interesting if they did, huh? 😉 Have a great weekend, safe travels, and safe stays! 🙂
And the federal government is reducing the NPS budget for the next fiscal year