WASHINGTON – The National Park Service reports that 23.3 million visitors to national parks in Virginia spent $1.5 billion in the state in 2023.
That spending resulted in 21,159 jobs and had a cumulative benefit to the state economy of $2.3 billion.
“I’m so proud that our parks and the stories we tell make a lasting impact on more than 300 million visitors a year,” National Park Service (NPS) Director Chuck Sams said. “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.”
There are 22 national parks in Virginia.
“In 2023, visitors to national parks in Virginia spent $1.5 billion and supported 21,159 jobs in local communities, providing reliable investments into surrounding economies, benefiting park visitors and communities alike.” added Gay Vietzke, Regional Director for Northeast National Parks.
“The state’s slogan is ‘Virginia is for Lovers’. I’d say it’s for lovers of America’s history and fantastic natural areas which welcome everyone,” continued Vietzke. “From our beaches to the mountains and everything in between, Virginia’s national parks offer much more than a beautiful landscape or an opportunity to showcase America’s past. Please visit Virginia’s parks as we get ready for America’s 250th birthday coming in 2026.”
The NPS finds that visitors spent $26.4 billion in communities near national parks. Nationwide, this spending supported 415,400 jobs, provided $19.4 billion in labor income and $55.6 billion 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, it said. Restaurants received the next greatest direct contributions with $5.2 billion in economic output and 68,600 jobs.
An interactive tool 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 nps.gov.
To learn more about national parks in Virginia and how the NPS works with Virginia communities to help preserve local history, conserve the environment, and provide outdoor recreation, visit nps.gov.
