09/05/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/05/2024 10:47
Contact:Eric Schreiner, 804-732-3531 x201
Petersburg, Virginia - A new National Park Service report shows that 183,000 visitors to Petersburg National Battlefield in 2023 spent $12.2 million in communities near the park. That spending supported 177 jobs in the local area and had a cumulative benefit to the local economy of $17.9 million.
"I'm so proud that our parks and the stories we tell make a lasting impact on more than 300 million visitors a year," said National Park Service Director Chuck Sams. "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."
"Visitors to Petersburg National Battlefield come to delve into the history of the last year of the Civil War, explore the trails, and create lasting memories with family and friends. In doing so, they also contribute to both the national and local economies," said Superintendent Alexa Viets. "We take pride in the fact that Petersburg National Battlefield supports an estimated 177 jobs and generates approximately $17.9 million in revenue for the surrounding communities."
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 Virginia and how the National Park Service works with Virginia communities to help preserve local history, conserve the environment, and provide outdoor recreation, go to www.nps.gov/virginia.
About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 430+ national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov, and on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.