National Park Service Releases New Economic Benefit Report

By Staff, 05/1/17 3:51 PM

HOPE – A new National Park Service (NPS) report shows that over 10,500 recreation visitors came through President William Jefferson Clinton Birthplace Home National Historic Site and spent an estimated 612,000 dollars in the local community.

“The resources the National Park Service protect are made greater by its patrons,” said Superintendent Tarona Armstrong. “As visitation increases so does our demand to provide superior service and the findings of this report support the value of NPS sites.”

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 and funding generated by national parks has a swift and direct positive impact on local economies in Arkansas as well.

The National Parks in Arkansas are: Arkansas Post National Memorial, Gillett; Buffalo National River, Harrison; Fort Smith National Historic Site, Fort Smith; Hot Springs National Park, Hot Springs; Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site, Little Rock; Pea Ridge National Military Park, Pea Ridge; and President William Jefferson Clinton Birthplace Home National Historic Site, Hope.

This peer-reviewed visitor spending analysis was conducted by U. S. Geological Survey economists Catherine Cullinane Thomas of the U. S. Geological Survey and Lynne Koontz of the National Park Service. This report shows $18.4 billion of direct spending by 331 million park visitors in communities within 60 miles of a national park. This spending supported 318,00 jobs nationally, with 271,544 jobs in these gateway communities, and had a cumulative benefit to the U. S. economy of $34.9 billion.

According to the 2016 report most visitors was for lodging (31.2 percent), followed by food and beverages (27.2 percent), gas and oil (11.7 percent), admissions and fees (10.2 percent) and souvenirs and other expenses (9.7 percent), local transportation (7.4 percent) and camping fees (2.5 percent).

To download the report visit go.nps.gov/vse.

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