The economic impact of Ozark National Scenic Riverways to neighboring communities has grown by nearly 30% in the last decade.
It reached a peak in 2021 and 2022 of more than $73 million, according to a visitor spending effects report released by the National Park Service.
The Riverways, which encompasses communities along the Current and Jacks Fork rivers, saw more than 1.3 million visitors in 2022.
“People come to Ozark National Scenic Riverways to enjoy the beautiful Jacks Fork and Current rivers in a variety of ways,” said Superintendent Jason Lott.
They come for camping, hiking and events like this week’s Super Blue Moon viewing at Big Spring. Rangers provided telescopes and other equipment for viewing the rare phenomena that won’t be visible again in this region until 2037.
Visitors spent approximately $63.8 million in gateway regions last year, the NPS reports.
“We recognize that this tourism is a critical driver to the local economy,” Lott said.
Nearly half of that money goes to hotels and restaurants, with gas and groceries making up the third and fourth largest categories.
Visitor spending is up from just over $56 million in 2012.
The economic impact measures not only visitor spending, but also the local jobs they support, the labor income and added value.
Services to visitors supported a total of 873 jobs, generating $21.9 million in labor income in 2022. Labor income in 2012 was $17.6 million.
Labor income is generated by the largest category, secondary effects, and second largest category, hotels. These make up more than half of the value, according to NPS statistics.
The combined economic impact is measured at $73.3 million in 2022, up from $56.7 million in 2012.
The peer-reviewed visitor spending analysis was conducted by economists at the NPS.
The report shows $23.9 billion of direct spending nationwide by nearly 312 million park visitors in communities within 60 miles of a national park.
This spending supported 378,400 jobs nationally; 314,600 of those jobs are found in these gateway communities, according to the NPS. The cumulative benefit to the U.S. economy was $50.3 billion.
“Since 1916, the National Park Service has been entrusted with the care of our national parks. With the help of volunteers and partners, we safeguard these special places and share their stories with more than 300 million visitors every year. The impact of tourism to national parks is undeniable: bringing jobs and revenue to communities in every state in the country and making national parks an essential driver to the national economy,” said National Park Service Director Chuck Sams.
Upcoming fall events for the Riverways include:
• Sept. 23, 9 a.m., National Public Lands Day
• Sept. 24, 7:30 a.m., youth fly fishing clinic at Akers Ranger Station
• Sept. 24, 9 a.m., BARK Ranger Hike at Big Spring
• Sept. 30, 9 a.m., Middle Current Cultural Hike, Powder Mill, Winona