The Great Outdoors Bring Great Rewards – Dave’s Diary

With an amazing weekend weather forecast ahead many Yakamaniacs will be headed to the hill to hike, camp and explore and for some that will include a visit to one of the state’s National Parks.  If that’s you, you are in very large and lucrative company! A new National Park Service (NPS) report shows that 7,652,074 visitors to national parks in Washington spent $459.3 million in the state in 2014. That spending resulted in 6,267 jobs and had a cumulative benefit to the state economy of $615.6 million.  Not bad for a few rocks, trees, meadows and snow!

“The national parks of Washington attract visitors from across the country and around the world,” said Pacific West Regional Director Chris Lehnertz. “Whether they are out for an afternoon, a school field trip, or a month-long vacation, visitors come for a great experience, and end up spending some money along the way.  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 the state’s economy as well, a result we can all support.”

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 (9.9 percent).

To download the report visit http://www.nature.nps.gov/socialscience/economics.cfm.

The report includes information for visitor spending by park and by state.

To learn more about national parks in Washington and how the National Park Service works with Washington communities to help preserve local history, conserve the environment, and provide outdoor recreation, go to www.nps.gov/wa.