Old Faithful Inn

Yellowstone Tourism Yields Economic Benefits

According to a report from the National Park Service, Yellowstone tourism has wide ranging and positive economic benefits.

The report, a peer-reviewed visitor spending analysis, was conducted by U.S. Geological Survey economists, on behalf of the NPS. Yellowstone tourism’s total impact was divided into two allocations: 51 percent for Montana and 49 percent for Wyoming.

The report details how, in 2013, more than three million visitors spent $382 million around the Park, supporting 5,300 jobs locally.

Further, the report details that $14.6 billion by 273.6 million visitors benefitted communities within 60 miles of national parks, as a whole. This spending supported 237,000 jobs nationally, with more than 197,000 jobs found in national park gateway communities.

Cumulatively, the U.S. economy received $26.5 billion from spending around national parks.

Most visitor spending, in national parks, was for lodging (30.3 percent) along with food and beverages (27.3 percent), gas and oil (12.1 percent), admissions and fees (10.3 percent) and souvenirs & miscellaneous expenses (10 percent). The jobs supported by this spending were mostly found in restaurants/bars (50,000 jobs) and lodging facilities (38,000).

About Sean Reichard

Sean Reichard is the editor of Yellowstone Insider and author of Yellowstone Insider For Families 2017.

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