Report: Glacier visitors spent more in 2023 over previous year; about $128 per person

Hungry Horse News

A new National Park Service report shows that 2.93 million visitors to Glacier National Park in 2023 spent $372 million in communities near the park. That spending supported 5,725 jobs in the local area and had a cumulative benefit to the local economy of $554 million.

That number is up from 2022, where spending was about $368 million, but lower than 2021 when it was estimated at $384 million. The quick math amounts to about $128 per visitor in 2023.

 “I’m so proud that our parks and the stories we tell make a lasting impact on more than 300 million visitors a year,” said National Park Service Director Chuck Sams. “And I’m just as proud to see those visitors making positive impacts of their own, by supporting local economies and jobs in every state in the country.” 

“People come to Glacier National Park to experience the wonder of iconic wildlife, clean water, rugged mountains carved by glaciers, and the vastness of the scenic and wild landscape. Park visitors end up supporting our local economies along the way,” said Superintendent Dave Roemer. “We’re proud that Glacier National Park supports over 5,000 jobs and generates more than $372 million in revenue to communities near the park.

Lodging accounted for 41% of the spending, or $153 million, restaurants about 16.9%, or $62.1 million and recreation industries, like guides and outfitting, about 6% or $22 million.

Nationally, the 2023 National Park Visitor Spending Effects report, finds that 325.5 million visitors spent $26.4 billion in communities near national parks. This spending supported 415,400 jobs, provided $19.4 billion in labor income and $55.6 billion in economic output to the U.S. economy. The lodging sector had the highest direct contributions with $9.9 billion in economic output and 89,200 jobs. The restaurants received the next greatest direct contributions with $5.2 billion in economic output and 68,600 jobs.

 An interactive tool is available to explore visitor spending, jobs, labor income, and total economic contribution by sector for national, state and local economies. Users can also view year-by-year trend data. The interactive tool and report are available on the NPS website at: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/socialscience/vse.htm

To learn more about national parks in Montana and how the National Park Service works with Montana communities to help preserve local history, conserve the environment, and provide outdoor recreation, go to www.nps.gov/montana.