New governmental data highlights what conservationists and outdoor professionals have long felt: outdoor recreation is a powerful economic engine. This year’s U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) shows that the outdoor recreation industry is a $1.3 trillion economic drive that has grown by 43% since 2012. The analysis looks to measure the outdoor recreation industry’s impact on the economy to help inform policymakers and business leaders about the number of jobs created and consumer spending driven by outdoor recreation industries. The report found that hunters and shooters contributed $914.4M in taxes on firearms, ammunition and archery equipment, which helps fund state wildlife conservation. The report highlights that outdoor recreation led to $128 billion in economic activity, over 900,000 jobs and $6 billion in federal tax revenue this year. “The BEA’s outdoor recreation data is a critical resource for advancing the importance of investing in our public lands and water, recreation infrastructure, our workforce and communities,” said Danny Twilley, member of the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable, which promotes the growth of the outdoor recreation economy and outdoor recreation activities.
Read more in the press release by the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable.
