New Study Shows Impact Of GSMNP

If you have ever had doubts about how much the national park affects the local economy…a new study should put those doubts to rest. A new National Park Service report showed that even with 2020 being an off year, there were still over 12 million people who visited the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Those visitors spent over $1 billion in communities that are near the park such as Newport & Gatlinburg. That money spent in the area supported over 14,000 jobs. The study showed the biggest impact of the money spent was in the lodging industry…with second being restaurants and other eating establishments…