Rome, NY - A new National Park Service (NPS) report shows that upwards of 90,000 visitors to Fort Stanwix National Monument in 2018 spent more than $5 million in communities near the park. That spending supported 66 jobs in the local area and had a cumulative estimated benefit to the local economy of $6.1 million.
“Last year more than 318 million national park visitors spent more than $20 billion and provided an economic benefit to the U.S. economy of $40.1 billion and supported 329,000 jobs," remarked Jim Williams, acting superintendent at Fort Stanwix. "We are delighted that Rome and the surrounding area benefits from national park visitors like other gateway communities across the country."
National park tourism is a significant driver in the national economy, returning $10 for every $1 invested in the National Park Service. "We appreciate the partnership and support of our neighbors and are glad to be able to give back by helping to sustain local communities," Williams commented.
The peer-reviewed visitor spending analysis was conducted by economists Catherine Cullinane Thomas and Egan Cornachione of the U.S. Geological Survey and Lynne Koontz of the National Park Service. Lodging expenses account for the largest share of visitor spending, about $6.8 billion in 2018. Food expenses are the second largest spending area and visitors spent $4 billion in restaurants and bars and another $1.4 billion at grocery and convenience stores. Visitor spending on lodging supported more than 58,000 jobs and more than 61,000 jobs in restaurants. Visitor spending in the recreation industries supported more than 28,000 jobs and spending in retail supported more than 20,000 jobs.
Report authors also produce an interactive tool that enables users to explore visitor spending, jobs, labor income, value added, and output effects by sector for national, state, and local economies. Users can also view year-by-year trend data. The interactive tool and report are available at the NPS Social Science Program webpage: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/socialscience/vse.htm
To learn more about national parks in New York and how the National Park Service works with New York communities to help preserve local history, conserve the environment, and provide outdoor recreation, go to www.nps.gov/ NewYork.
Tags: visitor spending effects economic benefits
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
