Outdoor recreation drives Idaho economy
The Outdoor Industry Association has released a report that says, in Idaho, Americans spend $6.3 billion on outdoor recreation, supporting 76,700 Idaho jobs, generating $1.8 billion in wages, and producing $461 million in state and local tax revenue.
The report looked at the economic impact of outdoor recreation in all fifty states, with a separate report for each state that tallies spending, jobs, salaries and tax revenue. The data demonstrates that outdoor recreation is a driver of state economies by supporting jobs, businesses and communities.
The state-by-state figures expand upon a national report OIA published last year, which found that nationally Americans spend $646 billion each year on outdoor recreation, supporting 6.1 million jobs and generating nearly $80 billion in tax revenue.
“Americans spend almost twice as much on outdoor recreation as they spend on pharmaceuticals each year. And outdoor recreation supports more than twice as many jobs as the oil and gas industry,” said chair of the OIA Board of Directors Will Manzer.
Outdoor recreation creates jobs in product development, manufacturing, marketing, logistics, sales, retail, public land management, guiding services and more — and also supports service sector and other jobs when people spend money on trips and travel-related expenses associated with outdoor pursuits.
With nearly 140 million Americans participating in outdoor activities each year, outdoor recreation is a larger and more critical sector of the American economy than most people realize.
The outdoor industry can continue to generate jobs and be an economic driver in the United States if parks, waters and trails are managed as a system designed to sustain these economic dividends for America.
“When we invest in the nation’s network of public lands and waters, we are protecting and enhancing outdoor experiences for the benefit of the thousands of businesses, communities and families whose livelihoods depends on the outdoor recreation economy,” said OIA president and CEO Frank Hugelmeyer.
(photo by: Phil Morrow)
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