NPS - National Park Service

09/16/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/16/2024 12:04

Tourism to Apostle Islands National Lakeshore Contributes $44.4 Million to Local Economy

News Release Date:
September 16, 2024

Contact:Lucas Westcott, 715-779-9113

Bayfield, WI - A new National Park Service report shows that 247,167 visitors to Apostle Islands in 2023 spent $44.4 million dollars in communities near the park. That spending supported 608 jobs in the local area and had a cumulative benefit to the local economy of $55.7 million dollars.

"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."

"We are fortunate to have local communities which have built a workforce to support tourism in and around Apostle Islands National Lakeshore," said Superintendent Lynne Dominy. "Visitors to these remote islands in northern Wisconsin want to go boating around the islands but also need a great place to stay, quality places to eat, and unique experiences created by local businesses. We are proud to support more than 600 jobs and $55 million in revenue to communities near the park."

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 billion 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. 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 Wisconsin and how the National Park Service works with Wisconsin communities to help preserve local history, conserve the environment, and provide outdoor recreation, go to www.nps.gov/wisconsin. www.nps.gov