National parks support economy

Visitors to national parks in Washington, Oregon, Alaska and Idaho spent $547 million and supported more than 9,000 jobs in 2010, according to a report released Tuesday by the National Park Service.

“The people and the business owners in communities near national parks have always known their economic value,” said Chris Lehnertz, Pacific West director for the park service. “National parks are clean, green fuel for the engine that drives the economy.”

The biggest impact was in Washington, which saw 7.3 million visitors spend $264.3 million in Park Service units and nearby communities, the report said.

About 52 percent of that spending was for lodging, food and beverages, the report said, with 29 percent spent on retail purchases, 10 percent on entertainment and amusement, 7 percent on gas and local transportation and 2 percent on groceries.

Those breakdowns are based on a national total of $12 billion spent by 281 million visitors to 394 national parks and nearby communities in 2010, the Park Service said.

Washington is home to 13 units of the national park system, including Mount Rainier, Olympic and North Cascades national parks. The state also has 24 national historic landmarks, 17 national natural landmarks and 1,452 listings on the National Register of Historic Places. Tourism related to NPS sites supported 4,560 jobs in the state, the report said.

Alaska had the second biggest impact, drawing 2.3 million visitors who spent $208 million in national parks and nearby communities, the report said. The state has 23 units of the national park system, 49 national historic landmarks, 16 national natural landmarks, one national heritage area and 410 listings on the National Register of Historic Places.

Oregon attracted 852,258 visitors who spent $55.2 million at its national parks and nearby communities. The state has five national park units, 17 national historic landmarks, seven national natural landmarks and 1,922 listings on the National Register of Historic Places. Tourism related to those sites supported 1,053 jobs, the report said.

Idaho attracted 587,000 visitors who spent $20.6 million in national parks and nearby communities. Idaho has seven national park units, 11 national natural landmarks, 10 national historic landmarks and 1,021 listings on the National Register of Historic Places. Tourism to those sites supported 490 jobs, the report said.