The Department of the Interior has announced that visitor spending in communities neighboring national parks reached a historic milestone in 2022, injecting a remarkable $50.3 billion into the nation's economy and sustaining 378,400 jobs.

Secretary Deb Haaland emphasized the significance of outdoor recreation's impact on both individual well-being and the national economy, stating, "When people visit one of our amazing parks, they are contributing to the community around them."

 

According to the National Park Service's report, "2022 National Park Visitor Spending Effects," approximately 312 million visitors spent $23.9 billion in communities within a 60-mile radius of a national park. Notably, 314,600 of the supported jobs were in park gateway communities.
National Park Service Director Chuck Sams underscored the vital role of tourism in national parks, stating, "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 of the national economy."

In fiscal year 2022, annual appropriations for the NPS amounted to $3.3 billion, yielding an impressive return on investment. The $1 investment in national parks translated into more than $10 of economic boost for the nation.

The report's accuracy was significantly improved through new socioeconomic monitoring survey data, providing more precise spending estimates for each park and enhancing insights into park visitors. The enhanced monitoring also allowed for a more accurate assessment of parks' economic contributions to communities.

https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1207/national-park-visitation-sets-new-record-as-economic-engines.htm