EBS STAFF
New National Park Service data reports that 2023 tourism to Yellowstone National Park contributed $828 million to local economies. According to an Aug. 28 press release from the park, the 4.5 million visitors who visited Yellowstone in 2023 spent $623 million in communities around the park, supporting 8,560 jobs. The cumulative benefit amounted to $828 million.
Across the country, national parks hosted 325.5 million visitors in 2023, supporting 415,400 jobs. Visitors spent $26.4 billion in surrounding communities and provided $19.4 billion in labor income leading to an overall economic output of $55.6 billion.
Lodging led the way in contributions, totaling $9.9 billion in economic output and supporting 89,200 jobs. Restaurants came in second with $5.2 billion in economic output and 68,600 jobs.
Visitors spent $713 million in gateway communities around national parks in Montana in 2023.
“I’m so proud that our parks and the stories we tell make a lasting impact on more than 300 million visitors a year,” stated Chuck Sams, National Park Service director. “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.”
