Visitors to the Colorado National Monument spent an estimated $23.7 million in Grand Junction and other nearby communities in 2018, in turn contributing to a total economic effect that approached $29 million, according to the latest results of an annual analysis conducted by the National Park Service.

The economic effects of visits to national parks, monuments and other National Park Service sites was estimated at $743 million in Colorado and $40.1 billion nationwide. The economic benefits from visitor spending nationally increased $2 billion and total output increased $4.1 billion compared to 2017.

“National parks with their iconic natural, cultural and historic landscapes represent the heart and soul of America,” said P. Daniel Smith, deputy director of the National Park Service. “They are also a vital part of our nation’s economy, especially for park gateway communities where millions of visitors each year find a place to sleep and eat, hire outfitters and guides and make use of other local services that help drive a vibrant tourism and outdoor recreation industry.”

Economists with the National Park Service and U.S. Geological Survey conducted the analysis. They took into account the number of visitors to National Park Service sites and estimated the amount of money they spent in gateway communities within 60 miles of a site. They also calculated the number of jobs visitor spending supported and indirect and induced effects of visitor spending that add to the cumulative economic contribution.

The Colorado National Monument attracted 375,000 visitors in 2018 who spend an estimated total of $23.7 million in gateway communities. That spending in turn supported 332 jobs, $9.1 million in labor income, $16.1 million in value added and $28.9 million in economic output.

Lodging accounted for the largest share of visitor spending at $8 million. Spending totaled $4.6 million in restaurants,
$3.5 million for gasoline, $2.3 million for retail sales and $1.7 million for groceries

In Colorado, a total of 7.6 million visits to national parks, monuments and other sites were recorded in 2018 and accounted for $497 million in spending. That spending supported 7,100 jobs, $258 million in labor income, $446 million in value added and $743 million in economic output.

Rocky Mountain National Park alone accounted for 4.6 million visitors, a total of $306 million in spending and $464 million in economic output.

Nationwide, more than 318 million visits to National Park Service sites were recorded in 2018. Visitor spending totaled $20.2 billion in communities within 60 miles of the sites and supported 329,000 jobs, more than 268,000 in gateway communities.