Washington State Report on the Economic Impact of Outdoor Recreation

People spend $26.5 billion annually in Washington to enjoy their favorite outdoor activity, according to a report released on July 30.

The report, titled “Economic Analysis of Outdoor Recreation in Washington State,” found that residents and tourists spend $18.8 billion annually on outdoor recreation trips, including trips to local, state and national parks. In addition, they spend $7.7 billion annually on outdoor recreation gear, equipment and repair services.

“This report shows the enormous value that outdoor recreation brings to Washington’s economy,” said Gov. Jay Inslee. “I hope that the people of our state continue to explore our state’s parks, forests and waterways with appropriate precautions taken to ensure the health and safety of participants and those who work in outdoor recreation. This is an important aspect of our state’s economy and will continue to be as we take steps to safely re-open.”

The statistics are from 2019 — before many recreation spots were temporarily closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Outdoor recreation is a bright spot today with many getting outside because alternative activities are closed,” said Kaleen Cottingham, director of the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office, one of three organizations that commissioned the report. “This study shows that the money people spend recreating benefits our local economies. Washington is known as a premier destination for outdoor recreation. We should think strongly about continuing to invest in our outdoor assets — to maintain our trails, re-design overcrowded boat launches, repair deteriorated campgrounds and build new places to recreate — as a way to improve our economic future and enhance the beautiful places that we all enjoy.”

The report shows that one in 17 jobs in Washington is tied to outdoor recreation spending. Every $1 million spent on outdoor recreation supports 10 jobs and generates $1.52 million in economic activity.

“The recreation sector has shown strong growth over the past half-decade,” said Marc Berejka, director of Community and Government Affairs at Recreational Equipment, Inc., one of the organizations that commissioned the report. “The report shows that spending on outdoor recreation grew from $21.6 billion in 2014 to $26.5 billion in 2019 — an increase of 22 percent. Before COVID-19, we saw that type of growth across our co-op, whether it was a family coming in to buy gear for their first camping trip or the experienced mountain climber looking for specialized equipment. And even as we all work our way through the pandemic, it’s clear Washington is a state of people who love to spend time outside.”

Beyond economics, the report highlights the immense environmental benefits of outdoor recreation. Washington’s outdoor places also provide public benefits, known as ecosystem services, such as clean air and clean water, habitat for animals, scenic beauty, recreational enjoyment, water storage to minimize damage from floods, resiliency to climate change, food and medicine. The value of these services is pegged at between $216 billion and $264 billion annually.

“We know our lands, waters and recreation opportunities are the main reasons we love our state–and why so many people move and visit here each year. This report highlights just how valuable our outdoor places are to us and to those who plan to visit the state,” said Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz, who leads the Washington State Department of Natural Resources, one of the organizations that commissioned the report. “Outdoor recreation is a part of the heritage and culture of Washington, a value beyond what can be tallied on a spreadsheet, however, this report illustrates how much people plan and prepare to make the most of the outdoors, particularly today with it being one piece of normalcy we all need to get us through this unprecedented time.”

“This is the second piece of good news we’ve heard,” Cottingham said. “This month, Congress approved the Great American Outdoors Act, which provides permanent federal funding for parks, trails and wildlife habitat conservation. That’s a big win for outdoor recreation and us all.”

The report was written by Earth Economics of Tacoma and can be viewed at https://rco.wa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/EconomicReportOutdoorRecreation2020.pdf.