Bulletin
CPAWS-Yukon Releases Summary of Two Research Studies on the Economic Impacts of National Parks in the Yukon and Northern BC
Whitehorse. March 30, 2006. Two recent independent studies commissioned by CPAWS-Yukon, along with supporting partners, concluded that a new national park in the southern Yukon or northern British Columbia would add to the positive economic impacts of existing national parks on communities and the region.
The first CPAWS research project focussed on the economic impacts from Kluane National Park during the 1999-2004 period. The second study projected potential economic impacts if a new national park is established in the southern Yukon and/or northern British Columbia, within Parks Canada’s Natural Region #7. This region in northern British Columbia and southern Yukon is a leading candidate for a new park to help complete the national park system. In 2002 the Government of Canada announced a long term action plan to complete and fund Canada’s network of national parks.
The total economic impact from Parks Canada and related visitor spending throughout the Yukon already includes a $9.2 million contribution to the Gross Domestic Product, labour income of $7.6 million, and about 284 full-time equivalent jobs (The Outspan Group, 2001). Across Canada, Parks Canada spends $332 million annually, with visitors to national parks spending an additional $1.5 billion per year, creating close to 30,000 full-time equivalent jobs.
The Kluane study found that the average annual expenditure by Parks Canada is $2.11 million. Parks Canada directly creates about 28.5 person-years of employment and had an average annual payroll of $1.23 million annually during the 5- year period. Total annual visitor spending associated with Kluane National Park and Reserve was calculated at $3.21 million, based on 75,478 non-resident visitors spending an average of $42.50 each.
The economic impacts from all spending associated with Kluane add $2.5 million annually to the Yukon’s Gross Domestic Product, and labour income is enhanced by $2.2 million. More than 57 person-years of employment are generated annually from this spending. Kluane Park and its related economic impacts account for approximately 7% of the Haines Junction economy, a significant percentage that compares well with other major economic activities in the region.
The second study predicted that a new national park in Natural Region #7 would have substantial local and regional economic impacts. If a new park is established, the study forecasts Parks Canada would spend $14 million over the first 10 years, and visitors would spend more than $16 million during the same period, for a total of $30 million. The impact on GDP in the local area would be about $1 million annually, and close to 30 full-time equivalent jobs would be created.
Download the full summary report in PDF format:
national-parks-economic-impacts.pdf
(Acrobat [PDF] file, ~415K)
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