A new National Park Service report shows that 1.82 million visitors to Kentucky’s four national parks spent $114.7 million in the state in 2014. That spending resulted in 1,816 jobs and had a cumulative benefit to the state economy of $146 million.
“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,” regional director Stan Austin said.
Blue Ridge, Great Smoky Mountains, Denali, Grand Canyon, Grant Teton Yellowstone, Yosemite, Golden Gate, Lake Mead, Olympic
The national park sites in Kentucky are: Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Park, Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area, Cumberland Gap National Historic Park, and Mammoth Cave National Park.
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 occurs 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, which includes information for visitor spending by park and by state, click here.
The report includes information for visitor spending by park and by state.
To learn more about national parks in Kentucky visit www.nps.gov/Kentucky.
From National Park Service
Great news about the National Parks, but don’t relax, both Kentucky senators, both in the pockets of the Koch brothers, would just as soon sell the parks to oil, gas, mining and timber interests. That idea should be considered treasonable, but all McConnell and Paul have to do is point out they approved $2.9 billion for parks nationwide. While true, the ask by the National Park Service was $11 billion approximately, not counting the huge deferred maintenance figure. Imagine, if money went into the parks how much visitorship and revenue would increase! It is folly to run something like the parks down, and then spout off about how visits have declined, expenses are up, and the parks should be liquidated. That is the false argument these and other politicians use. Don’t forget this summer — visit one of our National Park opportunities in Kentucky.