BAR HARBOR — A study by the National Park Service says park visitors spent $201 million and supported 3,138 jobs in Maine in 2012.

Mike Caldwell, the park service regional director, said Monday that the report shows that national park tourism is a significant economic driver — returning $10 for every $1 invested in the National Park Service. National parks in Maine include Acadia National Park and Saint Croix Island International Historic Site.

The peer-reviewed visitor spending analysis was conducted by U.S. Geological Survey economists.

The report shows $14.7 billion of direct spending by 283 million park visitors in communities within 60 miles of a national park. In Maine, there were 2.4 million national park visitors in 2012.


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