Federal shutdown cost US national parks millions
Last year’s federal government shutdown caused a decline of 7.88 million visitors to the nation’s national parks, according to a report published by the National Park Service.
The 16-day shutdown last October resulted in a drop in visitor spending of $414 million the NPS said, which it estimates to be down by a third, compared to an average October.
California, Arizona and North Carolina saw the biggest decline in national park related visitor spending during October 2013, each suffering a drop of at least $25 million in revenue over the month.
Following the shutdown, a nationwide survey commissioned by the Center for American Progress showed that voters were equally dissatisfied with both political parties in protecting access to national parks.
Releasing the full-year NPS economic impact report for 2012, Interior Secretary Sally Jewell said national park land "helps propel the nation’s economy as the lifeblood of hotels, restaurants and other local tourism businesses."
The 369 national parks generated $26.8 billion in 2012 which supported 243,000 jobs.
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