News Release

Tourism to Harpers Ferry NHP contributes $37.7 million to local economy

Date: September 4, 2024

A new National Park Service report shows that 427,317 visitors to Harpers Ferry National Historical Park (NHP) in 2023 spent $23.8 million in communities near the park. That spending supported 319 jobs in the local area and had a cumulative benefit to the local economy of $37.7 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.” 

“Harpers Ferry NHP continues to draw more visitors each year to experience the incredible history and natural beauty of the area. When the park’s visitation increases, the economic benefits to neighboring towns and counties rise, too,” said Superintendent Tanya Gossett. “Visitor spending, jobs supported, labor income, gateway community benefit, and total economic output have all nearly doubled since 2013 as a result of tourism growth at Harpers Ferry NHP.” Visitors to adjoining National Park units such as the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal NHP, the Appalachian National Scenic Trail (NST), and the Potomac Heritage NST, also spend time in Harpers Ferry, Bolivar, and the surrounding counties, amplifying the National Park Service’s visitor spending effects in the local area.            

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 West Virginia and how the National Park Service works with West Virginia communities to help preserve local history, conserve the environment, and provide outdoor recreation, go to https://www.nps.gov/state/wv/index.htm.