Glacier National Park’s record year benefited businesses in the Flathead Valley in a big way.
Visitors to Glacier Park spent $193 million in surrounding communities last year, according to a new economic analysis of national parks released Thursday. The spending supported 3,405 jobs in the local area, the report states.
According to the latest study, most visitor spending was for lodging (30.6 percent) followed by food and beverages (20.3 percent), gas and oil (11.9 percent), admissions and fees (10.2 percent) and souvenirs and other expenses (9.9 percent).
“This study reinforces the fact that Glacier National Park plays a significant role in the economy of the state of Montana, and specifically Northwest Montana,” Glacier Park Superintendent Jeff Mow said in a news release.
Mow noted that the park hosts visitors from across the country and from around the world, and visitation is increasing each year. Glacier experienced a record year in 2014 with 2.33 million visitors.
Last year’s visitor spending surpassed the 2013 total of $178 million and the 2012 total of $172 million.
Economists with the U.S. Geological Survey conducted the peer-reviewed visitor spending analysis along with an economist with the National Park Service.
The report shows $15.7 billion of direct spending by 292.8 million park visitors in communities within 60 miles of a national park in 2014. This spending supported 277,000 jobs nationally; 235,600 of those jobs are found in these gateway communities, the report states. The cumulative benefit to the U.S. economy was $29.7 billion.
“I believe the National Park Service is a good buy for the American taxpayer,” Mow said.
He added, “We appreciate all our partners and neighbors, and the local and regional businesses and organizations that contribute to supporting visitors to Glacier National Park.”