ST. CROIX — A new National Park Service (N.P.S.) report released on Friday revealed that visitors to St. Croix National Park sites spent more than $10.5 million in 2017 — a respectable number in light of Hurricanes Irma and Maria’s ravaging of the territory last year, which resulted in multiple park closures.
According to the N.P.S. report, in 2017, our 33,082 visitors to Buck Island Reef National Monument spent $2 million in the local communities, which supported 23 jobs in the local area and resulted in a cumulative benefit to the local economy of $2.5 million.
N.P.S.’s 96,780 visitors at Christiansted National Historic Site spent $5.5 million in local communities, which supported 69 jobs in the local area and resulted in a cumulative benefit to the local economy of $7.2 million, N.P.S. said.
Additionally, the park’s 10,568 visitors to Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve spent $604,200 in the local communities, which supported 7 jobs in the local area and resulted in a cumulative benefit to the local economy of $788,500.
The total cumulative economic benefit of the three national parks on St. Croix was more than $10.5 million in visitor spending in 2017 supported nearly 100 jobs in the local communities.
“We welcome visitors from across the country and around the world,” said Acting Superintendent Pennington. “We are delighted to share the story of St. Croix and the experiences the national parks provide. We are honored to introduce our visitors to this part of the Caribbean and all that it offers.”
To learn more about national parks in the U.S. Virgin Islands and how the National Park Service works with Virgin Islands communities to help preserve local history, conserve the environment, and provide outdoor recreation, go to www.nps.gov/virginislands, or please contact the NPS at 340-773-1460.
Tags: national park service, us virgin islands
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