TULELAKE, Calif. – A new National Park Service report shows that 136,164 visitors to Lava Beds and 2,731 visitors to Tule Lake National Monuments in 2023 spent a total of $6,968,000 in communities near the park. That spending supported 79 jobs in the local area and had a cumulative benefit to the local economy of $7,794,000.
“I’m so proud that our parks and the stories we tell make a lasting impact on more than 300 million visitors a year,” said National Park Service Director Chuck Sams. “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.”
“Lava Beds and Tule Lake attract visitors from across California and Oregon to experience the unique stories and landscapes of these National Monuments. While in the area they support our important local economy,” said Superintendent Chris Mengel. “We are excited to see that Lava Beds and Tule Lake support 79 jobs and generates over six million dollars to these local communities.”
The National Park Service report, 2023 National Park Visitor Spending Effects, finds that 325.5 million visitors spent $26.4 billion in communities near national parks. 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. The restaurants received the next greatest direct contributions with $5.2 billion in economic output and 68,600 jobs.
An interactive tool is available to explore visitor spending, jobs, labor income, and total economic contribution by sector for national, state, and local economies. Users can also view year-by-year trend data. The interactive tool and report are available on the NPS website.
To learn more about national parks in California and how the National Park Service works with California communities to help preserve local history, conserve the environment, and provide outdoor recreation, go to www.nps.gov/labe.