Last year, tourists spending at Mesa Verde National Park helped support more than 700 area jobs.
A new National Park Service report shows that Mesa Verde National Park had more than 500,000 million visitors in 2014. Those tourists spent nearly $50 million in surrounding communities, helping to support 742 local jobs. The cumulative benefit to the local economy was more than $60 million.
“National park tourism is a significant driver in the national economy, returning $10 for every $1 invested in the National Park Service, and it’s a big factor in our local economy as well,” said Mesa Verde Superintendent Cliff Spencer. “We appreciate the partnership and support of our neighbors and are glad to be able to give back by helping to sustain local communities.”
At national parks across Colorado, total visitor spending last year was more than $374 million, up 13 percent from 2013. The $50 million spent last year by Mesa Verde tourists was up almost 11 percent over 2013.
In comparison, 2014 tourist spending at Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park totaled nearly $11 million, up almost 6 percent over 2013; Great Sand Dunes National Park totaled nearly $16 million, up 12 percent since 2013; and $217 million at Rocky Mountain National Park, up more than 16 percent over 2013.
Across the country, nearly 300 million park visitors spent some $15.7 billion in communities within 60 miles of a national park. That spending supported 277,000 jobs nationally; 235,600 of those jobs found in gateway communities. The cumulative benefit to the U.S. economy was $29.7 billion.
The top five national parks for visitor spending last year were Blue Ridge at $863 million, Great Smokey Mountains at $806 million, Denali at $524 million, Grand Canyon at $509 million and Grand Teton at $489 million.
Nationally, nearly a third of all visitor spending was for lodging followed by a fifth for food and beverages. Remaining expenses included transportation, park admissions, souvenirs, groceries and camping.
tbaker@cortezjournal.com