National Park Adds Jobs To Volcano Area

Correction: We had incorrectly stated that visitor spending in the area of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park was $1.1 million. It is actually $111 million. The figure in this article has been amended.

Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park helped create 1,353 jobs in the Volcano area, said a new report prepared by the National Park Service and US Geological Survey.

The 2012 survey reported that nearly 1.5 million non-local visitors spent $111 million in communities near the park, creating jobs primarily in restaurants, grocery and convenience stores, hotels, motels and B&Bs.

“It’s always exciting to share how much of a positive impact our national and international visitors have on the economic viability of our island community,” said Park Superintendent Cindy Orlando. “On the same note, it’s also worth contemplating what the park means to our Hawai‘i Island residents. That’s difficult to define with a dollar amount.”

Ross Birch, executive director for the Big Island Visitors Bureau, said the park has been a major contributor to Hawai‘i Island’s upward trend in visitor arrivals and spending over the past few years.

“As the number one attraction for the island, and sometimes the state, it is not a surprise to see the economic impact the park has on our community,” said Birch. “Big Island Visitors Bureau is very grateful to have such an asset.”

The report, which can be downloaded here, includes information for visitor spending at individual NPS parks and by state.