Report: Grand Canyon Had $904 Million Economic Impact in 2016

The roughly 6 million people who visited Grand Canyon National Park in 2016 gave the local economy a more than $900 million boost, according to a new report by the National Park Service.

Visitors to the park spent nearly $650 million in nearby communities, the park said in a news release. That spending supported nearly 10,000 jobs in the area and created a cumulative economic benefit of $904 million, the park said.

"National park tourism is a significant driver in the national economy, returning more than $10 for every $1 invested in the National Park Service, and it’s a big factor in our local economy as well," park Superintendent Chris Lehnertz said. "We appreciate the partnership and support of our neighbors and are glad to be able to give back by helping to sustain local communities.”

Nationwide, National Park Service units generated $18.4 billion in local spending and 318,000 jobs, for a total economic benefit of $34.9 billion, the report said. In all, there were 331 million visits to Park Service sites in 2016.

Lodging made up 31.2 percent of park-related spending, the report said. Food and beverages were close behind, at 27.2 percent.

This year's annual report from the Park Service includes an interactive tool for exploring the economic impact of America's national parks. To check it out, click here.