The Changing Landscape of Outdoor Recreation

1. The Changing Landscape of Outdoor Recreation Dr. Steve Burr, Moderator Institute for Outdoor Recreation and Tourism Utah State University 2010 Utah Tourism Conference The Riverwoods Conference Center Logan, Utah May 13, 2010

2. What is Tourism? • Tourism is defined as the activities of persons traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business, and other purposes not related to the exercise of an activity remunerated from within the place visited. (World Tourism Organization) • Relies on the development and utilization of natural, historical, cultural, and human resources in the local environment as tourist attractions and destinations. • Creates recreational uses for natural and human-made amenity resources and converts these into income producing assets.

3. Outdoor Recreation Activities and Natural Resources-Based Tourism as Part of the Travel and Tourism Industry • Tourism activities and experiences dependent on the attributes associated with natural and relatively undeveloped settings. • Involves small groups of tourists and often includes opportunities related to the local culture and/or the natural environment. (Ewert & Shultis, 1997)

4. Travel and Tourism Travel and tourism combine segments from other industries that provide goods and services demanded while traveling away from home. Transportation Eating & Drinking Hotels & Lodging Car Rentals Amusement & Recreation Effects of tourism are also felt in manufacturing, construction, real estate, government, public utilities, agriculture, and other services.

6. Continuing and Emerging Tourism Trends • Evolution of the importance of experience... • Transition to an Experience-Based Economy • Role of Natural Resources Amenities-Based Experiences • Today’s travelers seek new and unique “self-fulfilling” experiences. • Traditional tourism activities are being augmented by • adventure travel • recreation transportation (bikes, OHVs, snowmobiles, watercraft) • nature tourism and eco-tourism • wildlife viewing and birdwatching • agricultural tourism • cultural heritage tourism • Big Fun is Big Business! • Leisure-entertainment lifestyle economy • Spending, jobs, and taxes • Leisure spending projected to be over 10% of GDP by 2015. Source: Travel Industry Association of America

7. Changing Societal Values Development and Use of our Natural Resources • More and more emphasis is being placed on the value of amenity resources. • Scenery and aesthetics • Opportunities for a diversity of recreation experiences • Ecological services • Clean air and water • Providing habitat for wildlife • Preserving biological diversity Great Salt Lake from Antelope Island State Park

8. Tourism and Public Lands • A powerful combination… Leisure Travel and America’s Great Outdoors! • Public lands will continue to increase in importance as a primary destination for a growing number of outdoor recreation activities and tourism businesses centered on highly scenic landscapes and natural resources.

9. Natural Resources-Based Tourism and Community Tourism Development • Based on a destination’s natural resources and amenities. • Many communities have attractive natural resources and amenities. • Opportunities exist for a variety of tourism-related businesses.

10. Opportunities in Community Tourism Development Focus on development of compatible, dispersed tourist businesses that help vitalize the local economy. “Destination Tourism” versus “Windshield Tourism”

11. Develop a Package of Activities and Experiences • Today’s tourists are willing to pay for quality experiences, services and products, but there must be enough activities and places to visit. • Develop a quality package of activities and experiences to both attract visitors and convince them to make an extended trip.

12. Natural Allies for Developinga Package of Tourism Experiences • Steady public interest in the use of our public lands and natural resources for Outdoor Recreation and Nature Tourism. • Increasing interest in experiencing the activities of the farm or ranch for Agricultural Tourism. • Growing interest in our significant cultural and historic resources for Cultural Heritage Tourism.

13. Outdoor RecreationRemains among the top purposes for leisure travel in the U.S. Deadhorse Point State Park, Utah Almost 80% of tourists say scenery is one of their top considerations in selecting a destination for travel. Rafting on the Colorado River Canyonlands National Park, Utah

14. Outdoor Recreation Trends 1982-2000Source: 2000 National Survey on Recreation and the Environment Fastest growing recreation activities: • birding/wildlife observation • walking/hiking/backpacking • snowmobiling/OHV driving • bicycling/mountain biking • snow skiing/snowboarding • swimming/water sports • canoeing, kayaking, rafting Hiking in Utah’s Canyon Country

15. Outdoor Recreation • More than three out of four Americans participate in active outdoor recreation each year. • Americans spend money, create jobs, and support local communities when they participate in outdoor recreation activities. • Simple, healthy, outdoor activities, such as hiking, biking, camping, or wildlife viewing generate enormous economic power and fuel a far-reaching “ripple effect” that touches many of the nation’s major economic sectors. Source: The Active Outdoor Recreation Economy Outdoor Industry Foundation, Fall 2006

16. Who Drives The Recreation Economy? Active Outdoor Recreation Participants By The Numbers Millions of adult American participants Source: The Active Outdoor Recreation Economy Outdoor Industry Foundation, Fall 2006

17. The Recreation Economy • Contributes $730 billion annually to the U.S. economy • Supports nearly 6.5 million jobs across the U.S. • Generates $88 billion in annual national and state tax revenues • Generates $289 billion annually in retail sales and services across the U.S. • Touches over 8% of America’s personal consumption expenditures—more than 1 in every 12 dollars circulating in the economy Source: The Active Outdoor Recreation Economy Outdoor Industry Foundation, Fall 2006

18. The Recreation Economy • Report takes a conservative approach in defining expenditures related to outdoor recreation. • Not included: • Over $30 billion of boat and other big-ticket sales from wildlife-based recreation • Much of the over $14 billion in recreational vehicle sales • $12 billion for the purchase and leasing of land, cabins, and second homes • When these “big-ticket” items and purchases for fishing, hunting, and wildlife viewing are included, the Active Outdoor Recreation Economy pumps $900 billion into the U.S, economy each year. Source: The Active Outdoor Recreation Economy Outdoor Industry Foundation, Fall 2006

19. Nature Tourism as a Part of Outdoor Recreation Eco-Tourism Green Tourism / Soft Tourism Socially Responsible Tourism Philanthropic Tourism • Discretionary travel to natural areas that conserves environmental, social, and cultural values, while generating an economic benefit to the local community. • Nature tourists spend time and money to experience nature and the outdoors and learn more about a particular destination with a concern for minimum impact and sustainability. Wildlife and Bird Watching

20. Agricultural Tourism • The act of visiting a working farm or ranch or any agricultural operation or business for the purposes of enjoyment, education, and active involvement in a variety of activities and experiences. • A commercial enterprise not necessarily part of traditional farming/ranching activities, that generates supplemental income for owner-operators through such endeavors as the accommodation of tourists, through heritage and cultural programs, by offering hunting and fishing leases, and through horse packing or other guided trips. (Agri-Business Council of Oregon, 2003)

21. Cultural Heritage Tourism Discretionary travel to areas rich in significant cultural and heritage resources worthy of preservation. Conserves local social and cultural values, while generating an economic benefit to the local community.

22. Outdoor Recreation and Tourism as a Part of the Economic Mix • The Community and Economic Development Challenge: Achieving a Balance with… • Small Business Development • Manufacturing • Farming, Ranching, and Logging • Mining and Energy Development • …andOutdoor Recreation and Tourism • With a Focus on the Sustainable Development and Use of our Natural and Socio-Cultural Resources

23. The Changing Landscape of Outdoor Recreation Panelists • Monique Beeley— Outdoor Utah Magazine • Dana Dolsen— Utah DNR, Division of Wildlife Resources • Riley Cutler— GOED Outdoor Recreation Cluster • Ted Wilson— Governor’s Balanced Resource Council

24. The Changing Landscape of Outdoor Recreation Dr. Steve Burr Associate Professor of Recreation Resources Director, Institute for Outdoor Recreation and Tourism Extension Specialist in Outdoor Recreation and Tourism Department of Environment and Society College of Natural Resources Utah State University 5220 Old Main Hill Logan, Utah 84322-5220 Office: (435) 797-7094 FAX: (435) 797-4048 E-mail: steve.burr@usu.edu Visit the IORT Website at extension.usu.edu/cooperative/iort