Wisconsin's Outdoor Recreation Gives Economy $11.2 Billion Boost

Wednesday, December 11th, 2024 -- 9:01 AM

(Danielle Kaeding, Wisconsin Public Radio) People flocking to Wisconsin’s waters, trails and woods gave a $11.2 billion boost to the state’s economy last year, up 9.4 percent from the previous record set in 2022.

According to Danielle Kaeding with the Wisconsin Public Radio, the multi-billion dollar contribution to the state’s gross domestic product highlights continued growth of Wisconsin’s outdoor recreation industry after the COVID-19 pandemic prompted people to seek the outdoors in droves.

Wisconsin ranked 20th among all states for value-added growth in outdoor recreation, surpassing the nationwide increase of 9 percent. Gov. Tony Evers announced the record-breaking year Tuesday following the latest release of data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

“From our vast and valuable forests and pristine lakes and rivers to Driftless bluffs, vibrant prairies, and urban green spaces, our outdoor recreation spaces are the gems of our state, and no matter where you go in Wisconsin, you’re never very far from a park or trail,” Evers said in a statement.

“Not only is outdoor recreation good for our mental and physical health, it’s also a powerful economic engine that supports thousands of jobs and families across Wisconsin, bolsters local economies, and attracts visitors, businesses, and new residents alike,” Evers continued.

Evers said his administration would continue efforts to ensure investment in outdoor spaces under the next two-year state budget. Overall, the state’s outdoor recreation industry accounts for 2.6 percent of Wisconsin’s gross domestic product, supporting 96,867 jobs.

That’s up 3.4 percent from 2022. The outdoor recreation industry represents 3.2 percent of all jobs in the state, providing $5.4 billion in employee compensation.

“The state parks and forests and trails across the state, they bring in a lot of economic activity…to communities across Wisconsin. Tourism is obviously a big part of Wisconsin."

"The draw from those visitors, I feel like the state properties kind of anchor that,” Steve Schmelzer, director for Wisconsin state parks and trails, told WPR.

Wisconsin’s tourism industry generated a record-breaking $25 billion in economic impact last year, surpassing the previous record of $23.7 billion set in 2022.

The figures released in June showed nearly 46 million overnight visitors to the state, and the state parks system saw nearly 20.3 million visitors last year. A recent Wisconsin Policy Forum report found state park sticker sales grew from roughly 346,000 in 2019 to almost 519,000 last year.

“Outdoor recreation is a powerful tool to create vibrant and thriving communities, to improve the health of our residents, and to drive economic impact statewide,” said Office of Outdoor Recreation Director Cassie Mordini in a statement.

“This growing sector has shown its resiliency in the face of challenges by continuing to grow, and our charge is to harness this potential for Wisconsin.” Evers created the Office of Outdoor Recreation in 2019.

In his 2023-2025 budget, the governor proposed making the office permanent by setting aside $1.1 million along with three full-time positions. Republican lawmakers stripped the proposal from the current budget.

The most recent data on Wisconsin’s outdoor economy found no signs of interest in recreation slowing. Sales of outdoor apparel and accessories contributed $1.3 billion to the state’s gross domestic product, which is up 13 percent from 2022.

The next largest contribution from motorcycling and ATVing increased roughly 6 percent to nearly $1.1 billion during the same time period, ranking second in the nation for the activity.

Since 2022, the state has also seen growth across activities like boating and fishing, bicycling, game areas, guided tours and hunting and shooting. Federal data shows economic contributions from hunting and shooting grew nearly 18 percent to $320 million. Contributions from boating and fishing grew roughly 11 percent to $928 million.

Only RVing declined. Economic contributions from RVing dropped around 5 percent to $464 million in 2023. Since 2022, tourism spending tied to long-distance and local trips also grew 11.7 percent and 5.8 percent respectively, according to the state.

Nationwide, the outdoor recreation industry grew to nearly $1.2 trillion in gross output and contributed around $639.5 billion to the nation’s gross domestic product.

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