Posted: Thursday, April 30, 2015 11:00 am
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Posted on Apr 30, 2015
New report shows visitor spending supports over 18,520 jobs in North Carolina
Atlanta – A new National Park Service (NPS) report shows that 16,710,760 visitors to national parks in North Carolina spent $1,102.6 million in the state in 2014. That spending resulted in 18,528 jobs and had a cumulative benefit to the state economy of $1,533.9 million.
“The national parks of North Carolina attract visitors from across the country and around the world,” said regional director Stan Austin. “Whether visitors come to explore the natural and cultural attractions along the Outer Banks, or enjoy the poetic pursuits of Carl Sandburg with a visit to his home, visitors come to have a great experience, and end up having an economic benefit to the communities they visit. This new report shows that national park tourism is a significant driver in the national economy – returning $10 for every $1 invested in the National Park Service – and a big factor in our state’s economy as well, a result we can all support.”
The national park sites in North Carolina are: Blue Ridge Parkway, Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Cape lookout National Seashore, Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site, Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Guilford Courthouse National Military Park, Moores Creek National Battlefield, and Wright Brothers National Memorial.
The peer-reviewed visitor spending analysis was conducted by U.S. Geological Survey economists Catherine Cullinane Thomas and Christopher Huber and National Park Service economist Lynne Koontz. The report shows $15.7 billion of direct spending by 292.8 million park visitors occurred in communities within 60 miles of a national park. This spending supported 277,000 jobs nationally; 235,600 of those jobs are found in these gateway communities. The cumulative benefit to the U.S. economy was $29.7 billion.
According to the 2014 report, most park visitor spending was for lodging (30.6 percent) followed by food and beverages (20.3 percent), gas and oil (11.9 percent), admissions and fees (10.2 percent) and souvenirs and other expenses (9.9 percent).
To download the report visit http://www.nature.nps.gov/socialscience/economics.cfm.
The report includes information for visitor spending by park and by state.
To learn more about national parks in North Carolina and how the National Park Service works with North Carolina’s communities to help preserve local history, conserve the environment, and provide outdoor recreation, go to www.nps.gov/Northcarolina
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Sandy Selvy-Mullis is publisher of The Stanly News Press. Contact her at (704) 982-2121 ext. 27, sselvy@cnhi.com or PO Box 488, Albemarle, NC 28002.
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Thursday, April 30, 2015 11:00 am.
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