According to the latest National Park Service (NPS) report, Big Bend National Park and the adjoining Rio Grande Wild & Scenic River attracted 509,000 visitors in 2023, who spent approximately $48.7 million in the surrounding gateway regions. This influx of tourism dollars supported 661 jobs and generated significant economic benefits, including $18.8 million in labor income, $29.8 million in value added, and $56.4 million in total economic output in local economies.
National Park Service Director Chuck Sams highlighted the broader impact of national parks, stating, “I’m so proud that our parks and the stories we tell make a lasting impact on more than 300 million visitors a year,” and emphasized the positive effects on local economies and job support across the country.
Superintendent Anjna O’Connor added, “People from all over the world travel to Big Bend National Park and Rio Grande Wild & Scenic River to camp, hike, birdwatch, float, and explore this special place. They end up supporting the U.S. and local economies along the way.”
The 2023 National Park Visitor Spending Effects report further details that national parks visitors across the U.S. spent $26.4 billion near parks last year. This expenditure supported 415,400 jobs nationwide, with the lodging sector and restaurants benefiting the most, seeing $9.9 billion and $5.2 billion in economic output respectively.
For more details on the economic impact of national parks and to access the interactive tool that breaks down visitor spending, job support, labor income, and total economic output by sector, visit the NPS Social Science webpage at www.nps.gov/subjects/socialscience/vse.htm. Additionally, information about national parks in Texas and their contributions to local communities can be found at www.nps.gov/texas.
