Wisconsin Office of Outdoor Recreation: $49 million economic impact of five outdoor recreation destinations in Wisconsin

 Gov. Tony Evers, along with the Wisconsin Office of Outdoor Recreation, released reports from the Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Economic Impact Program, finding visitors and residents contribute over $49.1 million in economic activity through outdoor recreation at unique outdoor recreation destinations in Dane, Door, Iron, Oconto, Oneida, and Vilas counties.

“Biking, hiking, canoeing, fishing, snowmobiling, skiing—you name it—outdoor recreation is a part of our culture as Wisconsinites and drives local economies, while also supporting folks’ mental and physical health to boot,” said Gov. Evers. “Much of Wisconsin’s outdoor recreation industry depends on our local parks, trails, natural areas, and destinations, and the DIY Program supports local leaders in capturing the true economic value of their destination so they can better showcase all our state, and our beautiful outdoor spaces, have to offer for visitors and locals alike.”

According to data released in 2024 by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), outdoor recreation contributed more than $11 billion to Wisconsin’s economy in 2023. Unfortunately, the annual release of outdoor recreation impact data has been delayed by federal leaders, and the economic value and data of Wisconsin’s multi-billion-dollar outdoor recreation industry for 2024 is not yet available for stakeholders, local partners, and state agencies to utilize, underscoring the importance of local data in the absence of federal insight and leadership.

Launched in 2024, the Office of Outdoor Recreation’s DIY Economic Impact Program helps outdoor industry stakeholders identify the local value of outdoor recreation in their communities. In its second year, five teams participated, and the five reports compiled and analyzed the visitation and spending patterns of biking, fishing, hiking, boating, and other activities at one-of-a-kind destinations within Dane, Door, Iron, Oconto, Oneida, and Vilas counties. The reports show that, together, these unique destinations generate a total of more than $49.1 million in economic activity for local communities through outdoor recreation.

The Office of Outdoor Recreation, created by Gov. Evers in 2019 within the Wisconsin Department of Tourism, launched the DIY Economic Impact Program in 2024 as a pilot to assist local governments and nonprofits in documenting the value of outdoor recreation.

In recognition of the importance of Wisconsin’s outdoor recreation industry, Gov. Evers created the Office of Outdoor Recreation at the Wisconsin Department of Tourism in his first budget as governor in 2019, and the 2025-27 Biennial Budget signed by Gov. Evers provided funding and staffing to make the Office of Outdoor Recreation a permanent office for the first time in state history.

The full report can be found at https://outdoorrecreation.wi.gov/Pages/DIY-Economic-Impact-Workshop.aspx