Imagine an industry that contributes to the economy of every state, accounts for a larger percentage of GDP than many traditional industrial sectors, is growing faster than the overall U.S. economy and supports healthy people and healthy communities. Sounds too good to be true, right? Well, the outdoor recreation economy does just that.
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, outdoor recreation accounts for over 2.2% of GDP, contributes to the economy of every state and the District of Columbia, supports 5.2 million American jobs and grew by 3.9% in 2017 – faster than the U.S. economy growth of 2.