The Great Allegheny Passage Conservancy conducts and analyzes annual trail counts along the GAP, and coordinates occasional research about how tourism impacts the regional economy.
Economic Impact of Tourism on the GAP
Tourism along the 150-mile Great Allegheny Passage drove over $121 million in economic impact in 2019, according to a year-long analysis by Pittsburgh-based consulting firm Fourth Economy. Spending by tourists yielded an estimated $19 million in tax revenue, with $8.7 million in tax revenue going to back to state, county, and local governments, and it supported nearly 1,400 jobs. The report concludes with a discussion of key opportunities and challenges facing both trail-facing businesses and trail towns along the GAP. Download the complete report, released in 2021.
Prior Economic Impact Analyses along the GAP
2015 | 2012 | 2008
Estimated Annual Visitation to the Great Allegheny Passage
Visits to the Great Allegheny Passage number 800,000 to 1.4 million annually, and show an upward trend of about two percent each year. Our methodology is conservative, and includes analyzing data captured by TRAFx infrared counters and by volunteers. See below for complete reports by year.
Analyses of Trail Usage Patterns along the GAP 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015
Trail Town Toolkit
Trail Towns: Capturing Trail-Based Tourism 2005