Study: Yellowstone, Grand Teton Boost Local Economy

The National Park Service has released an economic study that has officials at Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks pleasantly surprised.

The study says the 3.6 million visitors to Yellowstone in 2010 spent $334 million in the area, and the 2.7 million people who came to Grand Teton National Park spent $424 million. The study shows the economic impact national parks have on communities within a 60-mile radius.

Meanwhile, spending in and near Grand Teton supported more than 6,300 jobs in northwestern Wyoming communities, and spending in the Yellowstone area supported about 4,900 jobs.

The Casper Star-Tribune reports the figures are from a peer-reviewed visitors’ spending analysis conducted by Daniel Stynes of Michigan State University.

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Information from: Casper Star-Tribune – Casper, http://www.trib.com