Park visitors spent $274M

ACADIA NAT’L PARK — The park’s 3.3 million visitors last year spent an estimated $274 million in the “local region,” according to a National Park Service (NPS) report.

The report said visitor spending supported about 4,200 jobs and had a cumulative benefit to the region’s economy of $333 million.

The NPS defines “local region” as “counties within 60 miles of a national park.” For Acadia, that means any portion of a county within 60 miles of the sections of the park on Mount Desert Island, the Schoodic Peninsula and Isle au Haut. That includes all of Hancock, Knox, Penobscot, Waldo and Washington counties.

Nationwide, the 331 million visitors to National Park Service (NPS) units last year spent an estimated $18.4 billion in surrounding communities.

The visitor spending analysis was conducted by NPS and U.S. Geological Survey economists.

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Dick Broom

Reporter at Mount Desert Islander

Dick Broom covers the towns of Mount Desert and Southwest Harbor, Mount Desert Island High School and the school system board and superintendent's office. He enjoys hiking with his golden retriever and finding new places for her to swim. [email protected]

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