Outdoor recreation’s contribution to New Hampshire’s economy continues to grow to the tune of over 3 billion dollars
New data released in November from the Bureau of Economic Analysis shows that Outdoor Recreation accounts for 3.2% of New Hampshire’s GDP. This amounts to over $3 billion dollars, which is more than sectors like construction and transportation and warehousing. Jobs in the outdoor recreation sector grew by 10% and account for 31,000 positions. Nationally, the outdoor recreation sector contributes over 1 trillion dollars to our national GDP. Some of the areas of highest dollar value added nationwide included Rving, boating/fishing, motorcycling/ATVing and snow activities.
We, in community and economic development, know that this economic impact is but a sliver of the economic and community benefits we receive from accessing nature and the outdoors as many of these benefits are more challenging to monetize. However, this data is crucial for our communities and state partners looking to sustainably utilize natural assets for economic vibrancy.
For more information on the data release and analysis about New Hampshire, please see:
https://www.bea.gov/news/2023/outdoor-recreation-satellite-account-us-and-states-2022
https://www.graniteoutdooralliance.org/beatdata2022?mc_cid=3f63ffc44a&mc_eid=b04cb747cd
