Petrified Forest, AZ - A new National Park Service (NPS) report shows that 664,857 visitors to Petrified Forest National Park in 2012 spent over $39 million in communities near the park. That spending supported 488 jobs in the local area.
"Petrified Forest is proud to welcome visitors from across the country and around the world," said
superintendent Brad Traver. "We are delighted to share the story of this place and the experiences
it provides and to use the park as a way to introduce our visitors to this part of the country and
all that it offers. National park tourism is a significant driver in the national economy - returning
$10 for every $1 invested in the National Park Service - and it's a big factor in our local economy
as well. We appreciate the partnership and support of our neighbors and are glad to be able to
give back by helping to sustain local communities."
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 https://www.nature.nps.gov/socialscience/economics.cfm.
The report includes information for visitor spending at individual parks and by state.
To learn more about national parks in Petrified Forest and how the National Park Service works with Arizona communities to help preserve local history, conserve the environment, and provide
outdoor recreation, go to www.nps.gov/Arizona.
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
