Featured News - Current News - Archived News - News Categories

National park tourism in New York state creates $446.4 million in economic benefit

by jmaloni

Submitted

Tue, Mar 4th 2014 04:10 pm

New report shows visitor spending supports 4,885 jobs in New York

A new National Park Service report shows 12,627,820 visitors to national parks in New York state spent $446.4 million and supported 4,885jobs in the state in 2012.

"The national parks of New York state attract visitors from across the country and around the world," said Mike Caldwell, NPS northeast regional director. "Whether they are out for an afternoon, a school field trip, or a family vacation, visitors come to have a great experience, and end up spending a little money along the way. This new report shows that national park tourism is a significant driver in the national economy - returning $10 for every $1 invested in the National Park Service - and a big factor in our state's economy as well - a result we can all support."

The national parks in New York state include: African Burial Ground National Monument, Castle Clinton National Monument, Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site, Castle Clinton National Monument, Federal Hall National Memorial, Fire Island National Seashore, Fort Stanwix National Monument, Gateway National Recreation Area, General Grant National Memorial, Governors Island National Monument, Hamilton Grange National Memorial, Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site, Martin Van Buren National Historic Site, Sagamore Hill National Historic Site, Saint Paul's Church National Historic Site, Saratoga National Historical Park, Statue of Liberty National Monument, Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site, Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site, Upper Delaware Scenic And Recreational River, Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site, and Women's Rights National Historical Park.

The peer-reviewed visitor 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 http://www.nature.nps.gov/socialscience/economics.cfm.

The report includes information for visitor spending by park and by state.

To learn more about national parks in New York state and how the National Park Service works with New York communities to help preserve local history, conserve the environment, and provide outdoor recreation, visit www.nps.gov/NEW YORK.

Hometown News

View All News