LAKE MEAD NRA VISITORS SPENT $252 MILLION IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES IN 2012
BOULDER CITY, Nev. - A new National Park Service report shows that, in 2012, more than six million Lake Mead National Recreation Area visitors spent $252 million in communities within 60 miles of the park, which supported 2,840 local jobs.
"Lake Mead National Recreation Area continues to positively impact travel and tourism in our gateway communities," said Bill Dickinson, park superintendent. "We appreciate the partnership and support of our neighbors and are glad that our visitors help sustain local and regional economies."
The recreation area ranked among the top 10 in visitor spending compared to the National Park Service's 401 units.
Nationwide, the report shows that 283 million national park visitors spent $14.7 billion in nearby communities. The ripple effect of visitor spending provided a $26.75 billion benefit to the U.S. economy and supported 243,000 jobs.
According to the report, most visitor spending supports jobs in restaurants, grocery and convenience stores (39 percent), hotels, motels and bed and breakfasts (27 percent), and other amusement and recreation (20 percent).
The peer-reviewed visitor spending analysis was conducted for NPS by U.S. Geological Survey economists Catherine Cullinane Thomas and Christopher Huber and Lynne Koontz.
The report includes information for visitor spending at individual parks and by state. To download the report visit https://www.nature.nps.gov/socialscience/economics.cfm.
To learn more about national parks in Nevada and Arizona and how the National Park Service works with the states' communities to help preserve local history, conserve the environment and provide outdoor recreation, visit www.nps.gov/nevada or www.nps.gov/arizona.
Visitor spending in units of the National Park System (2012)
Blue Ridge Parkway $902 million
Great Smoky Mountains National Park $741 million
Grand Teton National Park $454 million
Grand Canyon National Park $453 million
Yellowstone National Park $400 million
Yosemite National Park $378 million
Denali National Park and Preserve $371 million
Golden Gate National Recreation Area $337 million
Lake Mead National Recreation Area $252 million
Jefferson National Expansion Memorial $228 million
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Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
