Great Smoky Mountains National Park 2015 benefits released

GATLINBURG, Tenn. (AP) – The National Park Service says Great Smoky Mountains National Park provided nearly $874 million in economic benefit to communities near the park last year and supported more than 13,000 jobs in the area.

A report from the National Park Service said more than 10.7 million visitors traveled to the park and spent time in local communities for lodging, meals and entertainment.

Nationwide, the report said there was $16.9 billion of spending by 307.2 million park visitors in communities within 60 miles of a national park. The spending supported 295,000 jobs nationally, with a cumulative benefit to the U.S. economy of $32 billion.

An interactive tool and the report are available online at https://www.nps.gov/subjects/socialscience/vse.htm .

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