The Interior Department said 2022 visitor spending in communities near national parks totaled a record-high $50.3 billion benefit to the nation’s economy and supported 378,400 jobs.
The National Park Service (NPS) report, 2022 National Park Visitor Spending Effects, found nearly 312 million visitors spent $23.9 billion in communities within 60 miles of a national park.
Of the 378,400 jobs supported by visitor spending, 314,600 jobs were in park gateway communities.
Interior Secretary Deb Haaland said: “At the Interior Department, we understand that nature is essential to the health, well-being and prosperity of every family and every community in America. But outdoor recreation is not just good for the soul, it is a significant driver of our national and local economies and job sustainability. When people visit one of our amazing parks, they are contributing to the community around them.”
Annual NPS appropriations totaled $3.3 billion in fiscal year 2022, effectively turning a $1 investment in national parks into a more than $10 boost to the nation’s economy.
NPS Director Chuck Sams said: “Since 1916, the National Park Service has been entrusted with the care of our national parks. With the help of volunteers and partners, we safeguard these special places and share their stories with more than 300 million visitors every year. The impact of tourism to national parks is undeniable: bringing jobs and revenue to communities in every state in the country and making national parks an essential driver to the national economy.”
The latest report is informed by new socioeconomic monitoring survey data, which greatly increases the accuracy of spending estimates for each park and helps the National Park Service learn more about park visitors.
