Visitors to Roger Williams National Park spent $2.9M in R.I. in ’14

VISITORS TO the Roger Williams National Memorial spent $2.9 million in the state last year, a 7.4 percent increase over 2013, according to a new report by the National Park Service. / COURTESY NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
VISITORS TO the Roger Williams National Memorial spent $2.9 million in the state last year, a 7.4 percent increase over 2013, according to a new report by the National Park Service. / COURTESY NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

PROVIDENCE – A new National Park Service report shows that 51,523 visitors to the Roger Williams National Memorial spent $2.9 million in the state last year, a 7.4 percent increase over 2013.
That spending resulted in 42 jobs and had a cumulative benefit to the state economy of $3.8 million, according to the report.
The latter figure measures the total estimated value of the production of goods and services supported by National Park Service visitor spending – business to business sales, and sales to consumers and exports.
“The national park in Rhode Island attract visitors from across the country,” Northeast Regional Director Mike Caldwell said in a statement.
“Whether they are out for an afternoon, a school field trip, or a family vacation, visitors come to have a great experience and end up spending a little money along the way. This new report shows that national park tourism is a significant driver in the national economy – returning $10 for every $1 invested in the National Park Service – and a big factor in our state’s economy as well, a result we can all support,” he added.
According to the report, the majority of the $2.9 million spent was on lodging at 32 percent, while 23 percent was spent on restaurants, 13 percent on gasoline, 12 percent on retail, 9 percent on recreation, 5 percent on groceries, and 3 percent each on transportation and camping.
The park also generated $1.4 million in labor income, the report said, defining labor income as employee wages, salaries and payroll benefits, as well as the incomes of sole proprietors that are supported by National Park Service visitor spending.
In Massachusetts, visitor spending was $488.5 million last year, an increase from $469.7 million in 2013, the report said.
That spending resulted in 6,882 jobs, and had a cumulative benefit to the Massachusetts economy of $648.7 million. Thirteen parks were included in the study: Adams National Historical Park, Boston National Historical Park, Boston African American National Historic Site, Cape Cod National Seashore, Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site in Brookline, John Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site in Brookline, Longfellow House – Washington’s Headquarters National Historic Site in Cambridge, Lowell National Historical Park, Minute Man National Historical Park in Concord, New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park, Salem Maritime National Historic Site, Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site and Springfield Armory National Historic Site.

California was the top state for visitor spending with $1.7 billion.

The report shows $15.7 billion of direct spending nationwide by 292.8 million park visitors in communities within 60 miles of a national park. This spending supported 277,000 jobs nationally. The cumulative benefit to the U.S. economy was $29.7 billion.

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