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Visitors to Glen Canyon supported 3,419 local jobs in 2016

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Tourists love Glen Canyon more than ever.
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and Rainbow Bridge National Monument drew 3.3 million visitors in 2016, a 29 percent increase over 2015 visitation.
Unsurprisingly, the goods and services they purchased during their visit had a large positive impact on the local economy.

A report released last Wednesday by economists at the National Park Service and the U.S. Geological Survey, showed that tourism to Glen Canyon National Recreation Area supports 3,419 local jobs, a 40 percent increase over 2015.
Spending in local communities by park visitors also increased 40 percent last year, exceeding $240 million.
Glen Canyon tourists helped drive a 42 percent increase in economic output to $278.2 million, an estimate of the value of the production of goods and services supported by visitor spending.
“More people than ever are learning just how incredible this part of the country is, and we’re proud to see the park’s visitors having a positive impact in the community,” said William Shott, superintendent of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and Rainbow Bridge National Monument. “We work hard to be good stewards of this 1.25 million-acre natural treasure, and that means being good neighbors to our communities as well.”
National park tourism is a significant driver in the national economy as well, returning more than $10 for every $1 invested in the National Park Service. In 2016, national parks across the country drew 331 million visitors, who spent $18.4 billion in communities within 60 miles of a national park they visited. That spending supported 318,150 jobs and resulted in a $34.9 billion cumulative benefit to the U.S. economy.
The greatest proportion of visitor spending went toward lodging (31.2 percent), followed by food and beverages (27.2 percent), gas and oil (11.7 percent), admissions and fees (10.2 percent), souvenirs and other expenses (9.7 percent), local transportation (7.4 percent) and camping fees (2.5 percent).