A new National Park Service report finds that Grand Canyon National Park's 6.3 million visitors in 2018 created an economic impact of $1.2 billion in the area around the Canyon.
The park's visitors spent $947 million in communities near the park, supporting nearly 13,000 jobs, the report said.
The peer-reviewed analysis was part of a larger study by economists from the U.S. Geological Survey and the Park Service. In total, $20.2 billion of spending by more than 318 million visitors to national parks supported 329,000 jobs in 2018, according to the analysis.
Lodging was the biggest share of visitor spending, followed by restaurants and grocery and convenience stores, the report found.
Sarah Creachbaum, the acting superintendent of Grand Canyon National Park, said in a news release that the Park Service "appreciates the support of our partners and neighbors in providing services that enhance the experience of those who visit the park," adding that the park is "proud to work with them in sustaining our communities."
To explore the new report via an interactive tool, visit this Park Service website.