NPS report shows economic impact of Vicksburg battlefield

VICKSBURG — A new National Park Service report shows that 581,459 visitors in 2010 spent $28.9 million in the Vicksburg National Military Park and in communities near the park.

The NPS says that spending supported 449 jobs in the local area.

Park Superintendent Michael Madell says the NPS report found 52 percent of the spending/jobs was related to lodging, food, and beverage service while retail (29 percent), entertainment/amusements (10 percent), gas and local transportation (7 percent) and groceries (2 percent) made up the rest.

The figures are based on $12 billion of direct spending by 281 million visitors in 394 national parks and nearby communities.

The analysis was done by Michigan State University for the National Park Service.