A new National Park Service (NPS) report shows that 3,447,729 visitors to Yellowstone National Park in 2012 spent $400, 346,500 in communities near the park.  That spending supported 5,619 jobs in the local area. According to a news release, the peer-reviewed visitor spending analysis was conducted by U.S. Geological Survey economists for the National Park Service.  The report shows $14.7 billion of direct spending by 283 million park visitors in communities within 60 miles of a national park.

This spending supported 243,000 jobs nationally, with 201,000 jobs found in these gateway communities, and had a cumulative benefit to the U.S. economy of $26.75 billion.

According to the report most visitor spending supports jobs in restaurants, grocery and convenience stores (39 percent), hotels, motels and bed and breakfasts (27 percent), and other amusement and recreation (20 percent).

 

More From K2 Radio