The report found expenditures supported 357 local jobs, $9.9 million in labor income, $16.2 million in value added, and $30.7 million in economic output in the local gateway. The majority of spending at Cape Lookout National Seashore was for lodging (27%), followed by restaurants (22.2%), gas (17.8), groceries (14.3%), retail (7.2%), recreation industries (6.5%), camping (3.5%), and transportation (1.5%).
Tourism to Cape Lookout National Seashore created $30.7 million in economic benefits in 2021 According to a new report from the National Park Service, visitors spent $27.6 million in communities near the park. That is a $5.7 million increase over 2020 visitor spending.
“We were able to keep most of the park open and functioning throughout another big year of the pandemic,” said Superintendent Jeff West in a news release. “Cape Lookout continued to support our local economy when it was needed the most and offered a refuge and a place for recharging for many visitors.”