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Report shows visitor spending supports 187 jobs in local economy
RICHMOND, Va - A new National Park Service (NPS) report shows that 210,306 visitors to Richmond National Battlefield Park and Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site in 2018 spent $12,419,000 in communities near the park. That spending supported 187 jobs in the local area and had a cumulative benefit to the local economy of $16,917,000.
“Richmond National Battlefield Park and Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site welcome visitors from across the country and around the world,” said Superintendent Doyle Sapp. “We are delighted to share the story of these special places and the experiences they provide. We also feature the parks as a way to introduce our visitors to this part of the country and all that it offers, particularly the important stories of the Civil War and Civil Rights. 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. We appreciate the partnership and support of our neighbors and are glad to be able to give back by helping to sustain local communities.”
The peer-reviewed visitor spending analysis was conducted by economists Catherine Cullinane Thomas and Egan Cornachione of the U.S. Geological Survey and Lynne Koontz of the National Park Service. The report shows $20.2 billion of direct spending by more than 318 million park visitors in communities within 60 miles of a national park. This spending supported 329,000 jobs nationally; 268,000 of those jobs are found in these gateway communities. The cumulative benefit to the U.S. economy was $40.1 billion.
Lodging expenses account for the largest share of visitor spending, about $6.8 billion in 2018. Food expenses are the second largest spending area and visitors spent $4 billion in restaurants and bars and another $1.4 billion at grocery and convenience stores.
Visitor spending on lodging supported more than 58,000 jobs and more than 61,000 jobs in restaurants. Visitor spending in the recreation industries supported more than 28,000 jobs and spending in retail supported more than 20,000 jobs.
Report authors also produce an interactive tool that enables users to explore visitor spending, jobs, labor income, value added, and output effects by sector for national, state, and local economies. Users can also view year-by-year trend data. The interactive tool and report are available at the NPS Social Science Program webpage:https://www.nps.gov/subjects/
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 Richmond National Battlefield Park
Richmond National Battlefield Park is one of 417 national park areas across the United States. Experiencing the park’s historic sites and visitor centers usually takes a full day. A driving tour of the battlefields is available at any of the park’s facilities. The main park visitor center is located at Historic Tredegar (470 Tredegar Street in Richmond) and provides museum exhibits, audio-visual programs and orientation services to help plan a visit to the battlefields. For additional information, contact the park at 804-226-1981, or via the internet at www.nps.gov/rich or www.Facebook.com/RichmondNPS.
About Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site
Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site, home of the first African American woman in the United States to become president of a chartered bank, has been a National Park site since 1978. The National Park Service preserves the home of Mrs. Walker, who was the leader of the Independent Order of St. Luke, an important benevolent association. In addition, she was a philanthropist, a feminist, and an early advocate of civil rights, becoming active in many national organizations. Guided tours of her restored home, located in historic Jackson Ward, are given by National Park rangers. The park visitor center at 600 N. Second Street is open Tuesday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The site is closed New Year’s, Thanksgiving and Christmas Days. Admission is free. For more information follow us online at www.nps.gov/mawa or www.Facebook.com/MaggieL.