Is Outdoor Recreation really an industry? A recent report on Alberta’s Crown Land Outdoor Recreation Economy revealed some shocking statistics...
Albertans spend $2.3 billion on crown land outdoor recreation trips annually and another $376 million on recreation equipment and related accessories for these trips.
This spending contributes $2.8 billion in provincial GDP (including direct, indirect and induced effects) and generates $551 million in tax revenues
36,000 full-time equivalent jobs are generated by Albertans’ spending on crown land outdoor recreation trips and equipment. While also indirectly fuelling employment in many other sectors.
Gateway communities with crown land outdoor recreation economies are more likely to attract new businesses and residents with greater wealth, and have faster growing wages.
On a more local level, when you calculate (visitors x MTB cost x 71.7% of visitors MTBing) a conservative estimate has over $3,000,000 worth of MTB's riding the trails on an average day.