Tourism to Joshua Tree National Park contributes $214 million to local economy

New report shows visitor spending impacts

Twentynine Palms, CA - A new National Park Service report shows that more than 2.9 million visitors to Joshua Tree National Park in 2024 spent $179 million in communities near the park. That spending had a cumulative benefit to the local economy of $214 million.

"People come to Joshua Tree National Park to recreate and enjoy being in nature, to learn about the history of the area, and perhaps even see a tortoise. While visiting, they also end up supporting the US and local economies during their visits," said Superintendent Jane Rodgers. "We're proud to be such an important part of the local economy and simply could not do what we do without the awesome support of our gateway communities and park partners."

The National Park Service report, 2024 National Park Visitor Spending Effects, finds that visitors spent $29 billion in communities near national parks. This spending provided $18.8 billion in labor income and $56.3 billion in economic output to the U.S. economy. The lodging sector had the highest direct contributions with $11.1 billion in economic output. Restaurants received the next greatest direct contributions with $5.7 billion in economic output.

An interactive tool is available to explore visitor spending, labor income, and total economic contribution by sector for national, state and local economies. Users can also view year-by-year trend data. The interactive tool and report are available on the NPS website.

To learn more about national parks in California and how the National Park Service works with California communities to help preserve local history, conserve the environment, and provide outdoor recreation, go to www.nps.gov/california.