NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

Public Use - Recreation Visits

January to August 2002

The National Park Service received 201.4 million recreation visits from January through August 2002^*. The -2.8% decrease in public use was -5.8 million fewer visits than in 2001.

This decrease is concentrated in New York City and Washington, D.C. The combined decrease at Castle Clinton NM and the Statue of Liberty NHS in New York is -2.9 million. The National Capital Region has five units that have received between 602,000-719,000 fewer visits each, combining for a decrease of -3.3 million visits.

The NPS received -12.5 million less visits over the last twelve months as the effects of September 11, 2001 continue. The level of international visitors significantly decreased while domestic travelers altered their historic travel patterns.  They are now taking shorter but more frequent trips, staying overnight with friends and relatives rather than in a commercial establishment and more inclined to visit cultural exhibits. 2002's intense fire season distracted travelers and altered their vacation destinations while the staggering economy negatively influenced the amount of disposable income available for spending. These trends appear to be firmly entrenched for the foreseeable future. Unless something quite unforeseen occurs to change the attitudes of American consumers, visitation in the NPS is not expected to increase this year.

*Preliminary Data: Data are adjusted for delinquent reports and comparisons are made against the same time period in 2001.

Note: The Public Use Statistics Office is in the process of converting to a custom-designed web-based software system. Regional analysis is not currently available.