Visitors to Colonial National Historical Park, which includes attractions like Historic Jamestowne and the Yorktown Battlefield, spent $191.5 million in the region in 2015, $4.5 million more than in 2014.
An estimated 3.3 million people visited Colonial National Historical Park last year. The money they spent supported 3,173 jobs in communities surrounding the park, according to a park news release.
Of the $191.5 million taken in last year, $60.9 million was spent on lodging, $43.3 million in restaurants, $25.1 million on gas and $22.6 million in retail stores. The remaining $39.6 million benefited a variety of sectors, including recreation, groceries, camping and transportation.
Visitor spending in 2015 was 2 percent higher than in 2014 and 10 percent higher than in 2013, when visitors spent $174.7 million, according to the National Park Service.
“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,” said Park Superintendent Kym Hall in a written statement. “We appreciate our partnerships with Preservation Virginia, Jamestown Yorktown Foundation, Colonial Williamsburg, and York and James City counties, just to name a few. We are also fortunate to have the support of every branch of the United States Armed Forces, and are glad to be able to give back by helping to sustain local communities.”
The economic impact data was calculated in a study by the U.S. Geological Survey. Click here to explore the data using an interactive version of the report.