Waitsfield, Vt. A recently released report by the Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) shows that outdoor recreation is an important driver of state economies, supporting jobs, businesses and communities. The state-by-state figures in the report expand upon a national report OIA published in June 2012, which found that nationally Americans spend $646 billion each year on outdoor recreation, directly supporting 6.1 million jobs and generating nearly $80 billion in tax revenue.
Analysis of the economic impacts from recreation on our region tells a powerful story in the four states of the Northern Forest Canoe Trail: More than $45 billion in spending on recreation and in excess of 450,000 jobs in New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine.
Kate Williams, Executive Director of Northern Forest Canoe Trail (NFCT), supports the conclusions that can be found in the data and says, “Recreation 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 local communities.”
Recreational trails have long been seen as important components of local economies with another recent OIA report indicating that the Great Allegheny Passage Trail in western Pennsylvania provides $7 million in direct spending to local economies.
The full report can be found at http://www.outdoorindustry.org/advocacy/recreation/economy.html.
The OIA report supports findings from a report issued by the Obama Administration in 2011. America’s Great Outdoors highlighted the unique opportunity communities across the nation have in implementing and coordinating recreational trails into the fabric of their communities.
Media Contact: Kevin Mack, Director of Partnerships and Marketing
Northern Forest Canoe Trail
802 535-5855, Kevin@northernforestcanoetrail.org
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