A new economic assessment from the National Park Service shows Arizona ranks seventh in the nation for the amount of money spent by visitors who come to see national parks and monuments.
Visitor spending dropped sharply in 2020 during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic but has since rebounded to more $26 billion nationwide.
Arizona last year had nearly 11 million park visitors, who spent more than 1 billion dollars in gateway communities like Flagstaff, Williams, and Tusayan.
That falls just short of pre-pandemic levels.
Grand Canyon National Park alone accounts for three-quarters of visitor spending in Arizona and supports more than 10,000 jobs.
“We’re excited to see how the Grand Canyon continues to drive economic growth in our local communities,” said Grand Canyon Superintendent Ed Keable in a statement. “The spending by our visitors not only underscores the park’s allure but also highlights its vital role in supporting jobs and boosting the regional economy.”
About half of visitor dollars go to hotels and restaurants. Retail, gas, transportation, groceries, and other expenses make up the remainder.
Explore the interactive data on the National Park website.
