Parks mean Money

Check out this press release from the National Park Service…

San Juan Island National Historical Park tourism creates $18 million in local economic benefit and is part of a $30 billion impact that supports 252,000 jobs nationwide.

The Visitor Center at American Camp – John Dustrude photo

A new National Park Service (NPS) report for 2011 shows that the 266,717 visitors to San Juan Island National Historical Park spent $18 million in communities surrounding the park. This spending supported 251 jobs in the local area.
“San Juan Island National Historical Park is a wonderful place to learn about America’s story,” said park superintendent Lee Taylor. “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 amazing 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 economy.”

Formal garden, parade ground and blockhouse at English Camp – Tim Dustrude photo

Nearly 261,139 visitors were counted in the park in 2012, slightly down from 2011, although those are not factored in the current report.
The information on San Juan Island NHP is part of a peer-reviewed spending analysis of national park visitors across the country conducted by Michigan State University for the National Park Service. 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 www.nature.nps.gov/socialscience/products.cfm#MGM and click on Economic Benefits to Local Communities from National Park Visitation, 2011.
The report includes information for visitor spending at individual parks and by state.
To learn more about national parks in Washington State 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/washington.

-NPS-

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