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The Economic Significance and Impact of Pennsylvania State Parks: An Updated Assessment of 2010 Park Visitor Spending on the State and Local Economy

In 2010, Pennsylvania’s state parks hosted 37.9 million visitors who spent $859 million on their trips, including $201 million in spending by out-of-state visitors. The direct effects of this were 9,435 part-time and full-time jobs; $227.2 million in wages, salaries and payroll benefits; and $360.6 million in value added benefits. This report includes both statewide and park specific analyses and a comparison the results of similar studies from other states.

Prepared for the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, this study found that:

  • In 2010, Pennsylvania’s state parks hosted 37.9 million visitors who spent $859 million on their trips, including $201 million in spending by out-of-state visitors. The direct effects of this were 9,435 part-time and full-time jobs; $227.2 million in wages, salaries and payroll benefits; and $360.6 million in value added benefits.
  • As compared to 2008, there were 4.3 million more visitors and $121 million more in visitor spending.
  • This report includes both statewide and park specific analyses and a comparison the results of similar studies from other states. For example, Pennsylvania’s state parks generated twice as many sales as did New Jersey’s, and a similar amount to New York’s.

http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/thingstoknow/econo...