Washington State's Outdoor Recreation Economy Generates

Since Utah established the country’s first state office of outdoor recreation five years ago, the idea has spread rapidly. Colorado and Washington opened offices in 2015; in 2016, three more states started offices or initiatives dedicated to promoting outdoor recreation. Last year, the number nearly doubled, bringing the total to 11. This rush of activity indicates that state governments have come around to the idea that outdoor recreation is a significant driver of economic activity that also offers other important environmental and social benefits. Until relatively recently, most states gauged the value of federal public lands within their borders purely in terms of their viability for extractive industries like mining, logging, and oil drilling. But in recent years, thanks to a growing awareness of the consumer spending and state tax revenue associated with outdoor recreation, that attitude has begun to evolve. Now these new offices are looking to advance changes in policies to further support the sector.

In the state of Washington, outdoor recreation and tourism is a $21 billion industry, a figure on a par with information technology and aerospace. But according to Snyder, outdoor recreation does not receive the same government support those industries do. The Confluence Accords aim to change that.

Congrats to Rob Sendak of WWRC for earning a spot on the new Washington Tourism Authority Board established by the state to kick-start tourism promotion efforts in WA.  Gov. Jay Inslee today announced the appointment of nine members to the Washington Tourism Marketing Authority Board. The members, from a diversity of backgrounds and regions throughout the state, will oversee a new fund to promote tourism in Washington state.

This is an exciting time for Oregon and for Oregon’s 5th and 6th grade students as OSU Extension works in collaboration with schools, partners, and communities to launch the statewide Outdoor School program, building on a legacy that began in 1966.