OHV Economic Impact Studies
Below are OHV economic impact studies of which NOHVCC is aware. Take a look below to read a brief description of each study and click the link to download a pdf version.
These studies can be used to show the dramatic positive impact of OHV recreation (and, in some cases, all recreation) can have on communities. They can also serve as inspiration for those who are seeking to quantify the impact of OHV use in their area.
*New – ldaho’s Billion Dollar Motorized Recreation Industry
ldaho’s motorized recreation industry is BIG business, contributing nearly $1 Billion combined in equipment, fuel, food, lodging, and more. There is an additional $543 million value added through employment. Local taxes, benefits, and labor income see a contribution of well over $250 million. The outdoor recreation industry is among the nation’s largest economic sectors from the smallest rural town to the largest city. This economic powerhouse creates billions in spending and millions of good paying jobs.
Iowa Off-Highway Vehicle Operations, Operators, Expenditures And Economic Impacts (2019)
Iowa off-highway vehicle owners spent approximately $72.4 million in 2018 on in-state operating expenses and related personal expenses. Total Iowa asset purchase and operating/personal expenditures generated approximately 1,018 jobs in the Iowa economy paying an average of $42,850 annually. Off-highway vehicle owners spent about $28.9 million outside the state of Iowa in 2018. If that had been spent in-state, it would have generated $34.9 million in Iowa industrial output and 374 jobs paying annual incomes of $31,180 per job.
Economic Impact of Off-Highway Recreation in the State of Arizona 2019
In 2016–2017, Arizona State University conducted a study to measure the economic impact of OHV recreation, by retained and out of state visitors, on the State of Arizona. A retained visitor is defined as a local visitor who would have traveled outside the State of Arizona if OHV trails had been absent. The study makes use of web-based questionnaires in addition to onsite surveys at geographically dispersed popular trail locations.
Outdoor Recreation Satellite Account: Updated Statistics for 2012-2016 (2018)
Updated statistics from the Outdoor Recreation Satellite Account (ORSA) released by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) show that the outdoor recreation economy accounted for 2.2 percent ($412 billion) of current-dollar GDP in 2016 (table 2). In data produced for the first time, using inflation-adjusted (real) GDP, the outdoor recreation economy grew 1.7 percent in 2016, faster than the 1.6 percent growth for the overall U.S. economy (table 6). In addition, real gross output, compensation, and employment all grew faster in outdoor recreation than in the overall economy in 2016.
MO-MOTO OHV Incorporated – OHV Tourism Economic Impact Overview (2018)
OHV recreation is a proven financial stimulus to the tourism market with the average rider spending a minimum of $100 on a single day trip. We should encourage struggling areas to embrace OHV tourism as we have the opportunity to directly impact and benefit financial success of local businesses. We can connect rural Missouri to OHV trails, which would provide new employment and income while bringing new money to these distressed regions. OHV tourism can diversify the economy of South East Missouri and create a culture of entrepreneurship based around trail oriented business (outfitters, rentals, guides, cabins, hotels, restaurants, etc) the same way the state park industry has to several Missouri communities.
Backcountry Discovery Routes® and Tourism: How Adventure Motorcyclists Can Help Your Community (2017)
In 2017, BDR routes generated $17.3 million in new tourism expenditures, with the average traveling party spending $3,769 on their BDR trip.
Oregon Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Participation and Priorities (2015)
On a per-trip basis, Oregon resident OHV riders spent more than OHV riders across all national forests in the country, perhaps due in part to more riders in each travel party and more nights per trip. Spending by Oregon residents on OHV riding trips (local and distant, day and multi-day) was an estimated $100 million per year across the state. In turn, this expenditure contributed 869 jobs, $35 million in value added, and $23 million in labor income. When out-of-state visitors are included, the estimated amounts increase to 1,120 jobs, $45 million in value added, and $29 million in labor income.
Economic Contribution of Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation in Colorado (2014-2015)
During the 2014–2015 season, motorized recreational enthusiasts spent an estimated $1.6 billion while taking trips using motorized vehicles for recreational purposes. More than 92 percent of these expenditures occurred during the summer recreational season. In addition to spending money on trips, households that participate in motorized recreation also spend money on maintenance, repairs, accessories, vehicle storage, and miscellaneous items associated with their vehicles. Motorized recreational enthusiasts spent more than an estimated $724 million annually on various items to support and enhance their experiences in Colorado, including $163 million in new vehicle purchases. In total, motorized recreational enthusiasts were responsible for $2.3 billion in direct expenditures related to motorized recreation in Colorado during the 2014–2015 season.
The Economic and Fiscal Impact of the Hatfield-McCoy Trail System in West Virginia (2014)
The analysis indicates that the nearly $1.7 million in spending conducted by the Hatfield-McCoy Trails for day-to-day operations generated an additional $1.6 million in economic activity within the State, for a total operational impact of $3.3 million. Even more notably, the Hatfield-McCoy Trails bring non-local visitors to the area whose spending is estimated to generate an additional $19 million in economic activity in West Virginia. Together, the total estimated economic impact of the Hatfield-McCoy Trails is more than $22 million.
Economics of Idaho Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation (2014)
Off-highway vehicle (OHV) recreation in Idaho is big business. Idaho OHV enthusiasts took close to 1 million recreation trips in Idaho during 2012 and spent about $434 million – $186 million on OHV recreation trips and $248 million on OHV capital expenditures such as the vehicles themselves.
Economic Importance of Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation: An Analysis of Idaho Counties (2014)Â
During the period August 2012 through November 2012, the University of Idaho, in cooperation with the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation (IDPR), surveyed Idaho’s registered off-highway-vehicle (OHV) owners. The goal of the survey was to determine the economic importance of OHV use in Idaho during the previous 12 months. The survey sample was drawn from IDPR-registered OHV owners. OHV activities not related to recreation (e.g., work) and out-of-state visitors could not be sampled. Trips and expenditures for OHV recreation in Idaho would be higher if nonresident OHV recreation could be estimated.
Montana Recreational Off-Highway Vehicles – Fuel-Use and Spending Patterns (2013)
Residents spend about $208 million per year on OHV activities, and nearly all their entire out-of-pocket trip costs are for gasoline. We estimate that OHV users buy about 6.6 million gallons of gasoline per year. With a base tax of $0.27 per gallon, resident OHV users in Montana generate over $1.8 million in revenue for the state highway trust fund.
The Economic Contributions of Outdoor Recreation: Technical Report on Methods and Findings (2012)
This study is an update and expansion of an earlier study of active outdoor recreation produced in 2006 by the Outdoor Industry Association. The 2006 study focused solely on human-powered (i.e. non-motorized) activities. While this study includes the same human-powered activities as the earlier work, an additional survey was conducted to gauge the economic contributions of outdoor recreation.
A Snapshot of the Economic Impact of Outdoor Recreation
Outdoor recreation spending in Western states equaled $255.6 billion – nearly 40% of the national total. This includes purchases of outdoor gear and vehicles as well as travel expenditures when enjoying the great Western outdoors.