National Park Tourism in SC adding over $103M to Economy

A new National Park Service (NPS) report shows that 1,519,746 visitors to national parks in South Carolina spent $81.1 million in the state in 2014. That spending resulted in 1,275 jobs and had a cumulative benefit to the state economy of $103.1 million. “The national parks of South Carolina attract visitors from across the country and around the world,” said regional director Stan Austin. “Whether visitors come to explore the Wilderness of Congaree National Park or see the Charleston harbor fort where the Civil War erupted in 1861, visitors come to have a great experience, and end up having an economic benefit to the communities they visit. 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, and a result we can all support.” The national parks sites in South Carolina are Charles Pinckney National Historic Site, Congaree National Park, Cowpens National Battlefield, Fort Sumter National Monument, Kings Mountain National Military Park, and Ninety Six National Historic Site. To download the report visit http://www.nature.nps.gov/socialscience/economics.cfm.