Obama makes funding case to improve tourism attractions and regenerate parks
by Chris Dodd | 13 Mar 2014
Obama is proposing more funding for the National Parks Centennial Initiative / Shutterstock.com/ChameleonsEye
US president Barack Obama has proposed funding for a US$1.2bn (£721.m €863.5m) multi-year restoration initiative that could see the creation of new jobs at tourism sites across America, while also helping to attract more visitors.
Obama is also looking to put US$75m (£45m, €54m) into the country’s National Parks Centennial Initiative, as well as seeking to set higher funding benchmarks for the scheme over the next four years.
The president’s administration is looking to raise the profile of the progressive initiative, which could potentially create thousands of jobs, tasking employees with making some of America’s high-profile national parks more attractive as tourism and travel destinations.
The proposed funding comes as part of a wider US$12bn (£7.2bn, €8.6bn) discretionary budget awarded to the U.S. Department of Interior.
None of the funding has been officially approved and confirmed, however, with the proposals to be considered by an appropriations committee later this year.
If money does make its way to the National Park Service (NPS), the budget would enable the Service to restore 1,700 of its highest-priority park assets.
The plans would also help create thousands of jobs for returning veterans and young people, by creating an extra 10,000 work and training opportunities.
America’s national parks have been noted as significant areas for tourism spending in the country, with the NPS highlighting a number of large contributions from key sites across the States.
A report published by the Service last month showed over 4.4 million visitors visited the Grand Canyon National Park in 2012, with people spending a total of US$454m (£272.8m, €326m) in and around communities located close to the park.
US president Barack Obama has proposed funding for a US$1.2bn (£721.m €863.5m) multi-year restoration initiative that could see the creation of new jobs at tourism sites across America, while also helping to attract more visitors. Obama is also looking to put US$75m (£45m, €54m) into the country’s National Parks Centennial Initiative, as well as seeking to set higher funding benchmarks for the scheme over the next four years. The president’s
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