Visitors To Washington Nat'l Parks Invested $507M In 2018

OLYMPIA, WA — Summer vacations and travel to national parks across the country last year resulted in a $40.1 billion windfall benefitting the nation's economy, including the support of 329,000 jobs, according to an annual National Park Service report from the U.S. Secretary of the Interior.

The report, 2018 National Park Visitor Spending Effects, found more than 318 million people spent more than $20 billion in communities within 60 miles of a U.S. national park, including $507.8 million from 8,371,753 unique visitors to the 15 national parks in Washington.

"This report emphasizes the tremendous impact the national parks have on our nation's economy and underscores the need to fulfill President Trump's plan to rebuild park infrastructure," Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt said in a statement. "With 419 sites, and at least one in every state, our national parks continue to provide visitors, both local and destination, with innumerous recreational, inspirational, and world-class experiences.”

According to the report, park visitors spent $2 billion more in 2018 than the year before.

"National parks with their iconic natural, cultural and historic landscapes represent the heart and soul of America," National Park Service Deputy Director P. Daniel Smith said. "They are also a vital part of our nation's economy, especially for park gateway communities where millions of visitors each year find a place to sleep and eat, hire outfitters and guides and make use of other local services that help drive a vibrant tourism and outdoor recreation industry."

To read the full report, and to explore details within the report's collected data — such as visitor spending, jobs, labor income, value added, and output effects by sector for national, state, and local economies — visit www.nps.gov.