Tourism to Golden Gate National Recreation Area contributes $1.5 billion to local economy

News Release Date:
August 27, 2024

SAN FRANCISCO-A new National Park Service report shows that the nearly 15 million visitors to Golden Gate National Recreation Area in 2023 spent $1.5 billion in communities near the park. That spending supported 13,150 jobs in the local area and had a cumulative benefit to the local economy of $2 billion.

"I'm so proud that our parks and the stories we tell make a lasting impact on more than 300 million visitors a year," National Park Service Director Chuck Sams said. "And I'm just as proud to see those visitors making positive impacts of their own, by supporting local economies and jobs in every state in the country."
"Our park provides unique recreational and educational opportunities for Bay Area locals and remains a popular destination for international visitors and people from across the country," said Superintendent David Smith. "We're proud of our partnerships with local businesses and non-profit organizations, which provide essential services to our visitors and support thousands of jobs."

The 2023 visitor spending effects analysis incorporates newly available survey data for Golden Gate National Recreation Area that was collected as part of NPS socioeconomic monitoring. Previous spending estimates for Golden Gate National Recreation Area were derived from socioeconomic data from 2016. The updated survey data revealed that more visitors are staying overnight in the local area when coming to Golden Gate National Recreation Area and are spending more money per trip compared to the previous survey. Overall, the 2023 visitor spending estimates more accurately reflect local visitor spending patterns as well as increases in visitation and associated costs. For more information, visit our website.

The National Park Service report, 2023 National Park Visitor Spending Effects, finds that 325.5 million visitors spent $26.4 billion in communities near national parks. This spending supported 415,400 jobs, provided $19.4 billion in labor income and $55.6 in economic output to the U.S. economy. The lodging sector had the highest direct contributions with $9.9 billion in economic output and 89,200 jobs. The restaurants received the next greatest direct contributions with $5.2 billion in economic output and 68,600 jobs.

An interactive tool is available to explore visitor spending, jobs, labor income, and total economic contribution by sector for national, state and local economies. Users can also view year-by-year trend data. The interactive tool and report are available on the NPS website.

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

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