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Contact: Adam Gresek
Contact: Gregory Purifoy
King of Prussia, Pa. – A new National Park Service report shows that 1.9 million visitors to Valley Forge National Historical Park in 2023 spent $27.2 million in communities near the park. That spending supported 411 jobs in the local area and had a cumulative benefit to the economy of $44.7 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.”
“Valley Forge National Historical Park is proud to host visitors from just around the corner and from around the world. From the runners, walkers, and riders who consider this their local recreation spot to our national and international visitors who are here to trod in the footsteps of George Washington, their activities support the park and thereby contribute to the economy,” said Superintendent Rose Fennell. “We are proud that Valley Forge supported 411 jobs and generated $44.7 million in revenue to our neighboring communities in 2023: from the neighborhood bike repair shop frequented by locals to nearby restaurants explored by out-of-town guests.”
“Here in Montgomery County, PA, we know how lucky we are to have the gem that is Valley Forge National Historical Park right in our backyard,” said Mike Bowman, President & CEO of the Valley Forge Tourism and Convention Board. “This beautiful and historical site is not only nationally and internationally recognized, but also a key contributor to our robust tourism and hospitality economy in Montco. That’s one of the many reasons why we’re proud to partner with the park, and have our Welcome Center right in their Visitor Center. Kudos to Superintendent Rose Fennell and her entire staff for continuing to provide a visitor experience that keeps folks coming to 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 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 Pennsylvania and how the National Park Service works with Pennsylvania communities to help preserve local history, conserve the environment, and provide outdoor recreation, go to www.nps.gov/pennsylvania.
About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 430+ national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov, and on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.
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Last updated: September 4, 2024