Visitors to Washington’s National Park Service sites infused $677 million into the state’s economy, according to a recent study.
In 2017, 8.4 million people visited Washington’s 15 NPS-operated parks and spent more than $562 million in the state, according to the spending analysis conducted by the park service and the U.S. Geological Survey. The report claims the spending resulted in 6,540 jobs and a $677 million cumulative benefit to the state.
“The national parks of Washington state attract visitors from across the country and around the world,” Martha Lee, acting Pacific West Region director, said in a statement prepared by the NPS. “Whether they are out for an afternoon, a school field trip, or a monthlong family vacation, visitors come to have a great experience, and end up spending a little money along the way. 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 Service — and a big factor in our state’s economy as well, a result we can all support.”
In addition to Mount Rainier, North Cascades and Olympic national parks, the NPS oversees 12 parks in the state including Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area and Seattle’s Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park.
