Other value added by activity highlights include the following:Boating/fishing was the largest conventional activity for the nation as a whole at $20.9 billion in current-dollar value added. At the state level, this was the largest conventional activity in 29 states and the District of Columbia, led by Florida ($2.7 billion) and California ($1.8 billion).RVing was the second-largest conventional activity nationally with $16.9 billion in current-dollar value added. It was also the largest conventional activity in nine states, led by Indiana ($2.9 billion) and Ohio ($599.5 million).Snow activities was the sixth-largest conventional activity at the national level with $5.6 billion in current-dollar value added. At the state level, snow activities was the largest conventional activity in Colorado ($1.5 billion), Utah ($549.2 million), and Vermont ($175.9 million).Guided tours/outfitted travel, part of the other core activities category, accounted for $12.9 billion and was also one of the fastest growing activities in 2017, growing 11.4 percent.Outdoor Recreation by IndustryToday’s data also show the role that different industries play in the outdoor recreation economy, including their impact on value added, gross output, employment, and compensation. The arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation, and food services sector was the largest contributor to the U.S. outdoor recreation economy in 2017, accounting for $112.9 billion (national table 10). At the state level, this same sector was the largest contributor to outdoor recreation for 26 states and the District of Columbia.Other value added by industry highlights include the following:Retail trade had the second largest sector contribution to outdoor recreation nationally, accounting for $95.7 billion of current-dollar value added. Retail trade was the largest contributor to outdoor recreation value added in 17 states, including Texas ($8.5 billion), Washington ($2.8 billion), and Ohio ($2.7 billion).Manufacturing contributed $51.7 billion nationally to the outdoor recreation economy in 2017 and was the third largest outdoor recreation sector. At the state level, manufacturing was the largest sector for outdoor recreation value added in Indiana ($4.7 billion), Wisconsin ($2.0 billion), Louisiana ($1.6 billion), and Kansas ($684.2 million).Seeking Public CommentThe public is invited to submit comments on the prototype state statistics by emailing OutdoorRecreation@bea.gov(link sends e-mail). Comments are due by March 31, 2020. The feedback will be used to help finalize data sources and methodology for the state outdoor recreation statistics. Official state statistics are scheduled for release in the fall of 2020.Source: Governor. BEA. 10.24.2019 Governor Scott addresses crowd at a Thursday press conference to promote hunting and fishing. With the governor to his left is Fish & Wildlife Commissioner Louis Porter and to his right in the gray sweater is Vermont Agency of Natural Resources Secretary Julie Moore. Courtesy photo.Vermont Business Magazine Flanked by store owners, hunting and angling groups and supporters of outdoor recreation, Governor Phil Scott in Barre today recognized the important contribution hunting, fishing and related activities have in strengthening and diversifying Vermont’s economy.“Vermont has a rich history of hunting and angling, extending back before we were even a state. It’s a major part of our way of life,” said Governor Scott. “For me it was a family tradition, and I encourage more Vermonters who have an interest to get out there and try it. Take your son, daughter, niece, nephew, cousin or mentee, and learn what the tradition is all about.”A new report by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis(link is external) finds that Vermont is fourth among states when measured by contribution of outdoor recreation to Gross Domestic Product. This is greater than states like Alaska, Florida and Colorado.“Recreation in Vermont’s forests, fields and waterways plays a significant role in our economy,” Governor Scott added. “This new analysis shows, once again, how important hunting, fishing, shooting and related activities are to our state.”In Vermont, hunting, shooting and trapping is the second largest sector of outdoor recreation, after snow sports. Fishing, boating and related activities were measured separately, and were fifth among outdoor recreational activities. Overall, more than 17,000 Vermonters work in outdoor recreation according to the report.“Wildlife-based recreation is a huge part of Vermont’s economy, and what makes our state special,” said Louis Porter, commissioner of the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department. “Each year, nearly 80,000 people are licensed to hunt in Vermont, and more than 132,000 are licensed to fish.”One important aspect of the contribution of hunting and fishing in Vermont is that much of the economic activity occurs in small and medium sized businesses, which are often located in more rural parts of Vermont.“From game check-in stations located in stores to sporting good stores to meat cutters, many Vermonters own, manage or work in small businesses like ours, which depend on hunters, anglers and trappers,” said Theresa Elmer, co-owner of Mountain Deer Taxidermy in Northfield. “These businesses are important parts of their rural communities which don’t have all the economic opportunities which exist in Vermont’s more urban areas.”Another important part of the economic contribution of hunting and fishing is the local, sustainable and healthy food provided through these activities. Hunting of the state’s big game species alone provided more than 4 million servings of food in Vermont in 2018, according to a Vermont Fish and Wildlife analysis.Bureau of Economic Analysis: Outdoor RecreationThe U.S. outdoor recreation economy accounted for 2.2 percent ($427.2 billion) of current-dollar gross domestic product (GDP) in 2017 (national table 2) according to statistics released in September by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. The Outdoor Recreation Satellite Account (ORSA) also shows that inflation-adjusted (real) GDP for the outdoor recreation economy grew by 3.9 percent in 2017, faster than the 2.4 percent growth of the overall U.S. economy. Real gross output, compensation, and employment all grew faster in outdoor recreation than for the economy as a whole.With this release, BEA introduces prototype statistics on outdoor recreation for all 50 states and the District of Columbia. These new statistics show that the relative size of the outdoor recreation economy ranged from 5.4 percent of GDP for Hawaii to 1.2 percent of GDP for the District of Columbia.Outdoor Recreation by ActivityFor the first time, ORSA includes information on the contribution of outdoor recreation activities to GDP. These data, referred to as value added by activity statistics, are available at both the national and state level.Activities are grouped into three categories: conventional core activities (such as camping, hiking, boating, and hunting); other core activities (such as gardening and outdoor concerts); and supporting activities (such as construction, travel and tourism, local trips, and government expenditures).Conventional outdoor recreation accounted for 30.6 percent of the outdoor recreation economy nationwide in 2017, other recreation accounted for 19.3 percent, and the remaining 50.1 percent was supporting activities (national table 2).
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