Riverways: Big economic impact on southern Missouri

A new National Park Service report shows that 1.3 million visitors to Ozark National Scenic Riverways in 2023 spent $66.8 million in communities near the park. That spending supported 908 jobs in the local area and had a cumulative benefit to the local economy of $76.8 million.

“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.”

“People come to Ozark National Scenic Riverways to enjoy the beautiful Current and Jacks Fork rivers, supporting the U.S. and local economies along the way,” said Superintendent Jason Lott. “We’re proud that Ozark National Scenic Riverways supports 908 jobs and generates $76.8 million in revenue to communities near the park.

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, https://www.nps.gov/subjects/socialscience/vse.htm

To learn more about national parks in Missouri and how the National Park Service works with Missouri communities to help preserve local history, conserve the environment and provide outdoor recreation, go to www.nps.gov/missouri .

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