National Park Visitor Spending Created Record High Economic Benefit in 2022

Visitor spending around national parks in the U.S. has reached a new high, according to the U.S. Department of the Interior. Visitors in 2022 spent $50.3 billion, supporting 378,400  jobs.

“At the Interior Department, we understand that nature is essential to the health, well-being and prosperity of every family and every community in America,” Secretary Deb Haaland said in a statement. “But outdoor recreation is not just good for the soul, it’s a significant driver of our national and local economies and job sustainability. When people visit one of our amazing parks, they are contributing to the community around them.”

The 2022 National Park Visitor Spending Effects report found that in addition to the nationwide economic benefits, more than 312 million visitors, a 5% increase from 2021, spent $23.9 billion (a 16% increase from the previous year) in the local communities near national parks, defined as local gateway regions within 60 miles of a national park.

While the $23.9 billion in visitor spending results in direct impacts to local businesses, it can also create indirect economic impacts as the businesses turn to other companies to reorder supplies and local employees spend their earnings within their communities, the report authors explained. 

According to the report, the lodging industry had the highest direct impact of $9 billion in economic output, followed by restaurants with $4.6 billion in economic impact. In total, the $23.9 billion in spending contributed an estimated $17.5 billion in labor income, $29 billion in added value and $50.3 billion in economic output. 

The report results are available as an interactive tool for those who want to see the breakdown of economic contributions by park, state or national economies and by industry sectors. According to the tool, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park had the highest visitor spending for 2022 at $2.1 billion.

“Since 1916, the National Park Service has been entrusted with the care of our national parks. With the help of volunteers and partners, we safeguard these special places and share their stories with more than 300 million visitors every year,” National Park Service Director Chuck Sams said in a statement. “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 to the national economy.”

The U.S. National Park System spans more than 85 million acres in 424 designated areas, and the National Park Service has monitored visitor spending and its economic impacts for more than three decades. The data can help provide more information for National Park Service leaders and policymakers as they make decisions regarding national parks.