National park tourism contributed over $2 billion to Tennessee’s economy in 2023

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Tennessee’s economy got a $2.2 billion boost in 2023 thanks to millions of visitors to the state’s national parks.

The National Park Service reported that the state saw over 10.5 million visitors to its 13 national parks last year. Those visitors reportedly spent $1.4 billion across the state — the same amount as in 2022.

That spending resulted in the creation of over 20,000 jobs, which led to the $2.2 billion state economic benefit.

“Parks reflect the diversity of our country’s shared heritage and offer unique experiences, for learning, recreation, inspiration, and fun,” the National Parks Service’s regional director for southeast parks, Mark Foust, said in a press release. “Visitors come to parks for a variety of experiences and their spending supports the economies of gateway communities.”

Visitors spent $26.4 billion in communities across the U.S. in 2023, according to additional reporting from the National Park Service. That spending supported more than 415,000 jobs, with the lodging sector seeing the highest direct effect, followed by the restaurant sector.

“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 Director Chuck Sams said in a press release. “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.”

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