Florence Yamaha/Polaris Dealer
SxS Sales, Service, and Accessories
Near OR Dunes National Recreation Area
On September 20, 2018, the Outdoor Recreation Satellite
Account (ORSA) and the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic
Analysis (BEA) released updated data that shows the outdoor recreation economy
accounted for 2.2 percent ($412 billion) of current-dollar Gross Domestic
Product (GDP) in 2016. The BEA report notes the outdoor recreation economy grew
1.7 percent in 2016 which was faster than the 1.6 percent growth for the
overall U.S. economy.
LINK TO BEA NEWS RELEASE
These updated fiscal numbers are an increase from an earlier
BEA preliminary report issued in February 2018 that showed the outdoor
recreation economy accounted for 2.0 percent ($373.7 billion) of current-dollar
GDP in 2016.
BEA Chart on Outdoor Recreation Economic Impact
The new report states that motorcycling/ATVing activities
accounted for $20.3 billion of real gross output in 2016, representing one of
the fastest-growing activities at 8.0 percent growth from the previous year.
Factor 55 - Aftermarket Company
Manufactures Closed System Winching Products
Vendor at 2018 Pomona Off-Road Expo
After an initial review of this new report, QWR believes
BEA may be actually underreporting the economic impact of “off-road” motorized
recreation. While BEA should be
commended for disaggregating motorcycle and ATV use from other motorized
activities such as RVing, it appears the
agency has failed to capture the direct and growing off-road economic impact of
larger OHVs such as Side x Sides (SxS), jeep-type vehicles, four-wheel drive
pickups, and all-wheel drive SUVs.
SUV Exploring Designated OHV Route
Eldorado National Forest
QWR found it hard to identify where BEA captured the
economic impact that comes from off-road motorized access to non-motorized
recreation activities such as hunting, fishing, driving for pleasure, races,
and wildlife viewing which are often highly dependent on motorized vehicle use.
SxS Touring on BLM Historic "Route 66" OHV Trail
Don Amador, President of Quiet Warrior Racing/Consulting,
states, “I believe BEA should try and capture the ‘off-road’ motorized
recreation economic benefits where the larger OHVs are used as the primary
activity or they provide access to non-motorized recreation activities. Most
federal and state land agencies consider any motorized vehicle to be an OHV or
off-road vehicle when being operated on native surfaced routes.”
Off-Road-based Camping Products
Photo Credit - Del Albright
“There are huge economic benefits associated with
off-road recreation. A growing number of
rural economies are based on SxS and/or street-legal OHV use. Also, off-road recreation oriented manufacturing,
aftermarket, and vehicle dealers deserve to have their economic impact factored
into future BEA reports,” Amador concludes.
Off-Road Touring Event for Street Legal 4WD Vehicles
Rubicon Trail - Eldorado National Forest
QWR believes this BEA
economic impact report provides land agencies and government officials with
important information that can and should be used in current and future recreation
planning efforts.
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