Do-It-Yourself Economic Impact Guide
A Do-It-Yourself Guide: Conducting and Using Visitor and Recreational User Research is a free, do-it-yourself resource to assist anyone (no economics degree required) through the economic impact process without hiring a consultant. The step-by-step guide is designed for small-to-mid-sized organizations, agencies and partnerships that manage trails, recreation areas or outdoor destinations.
Organization
Wisconsin Office of Outdoor Recreation
Publication Date
2024
Location
Wisconsin
Topic
Economic Impact
Participation
Rural Communities
Workforce
Activity
Bicycling
Birding/Wildlife viewing
Camping
Climbing
Equestrian
Fishing
Hiking/Running
Hunting
Motorized sports (boat, snowmobile, ATV, etc.)
Paddling
Winter sports (downhill, Nordic, tube, snowshoe, snowmobile)
Related Resources
2015 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Smart Growth Self-Assessment for Rural Communities
The Smart Growth Self-Assessment for Rural Communities is a compilation of strategies, organized by 11 common "goal areas," that villages, towns, and small cities can use to evaluate their existing policies to create healthy, environmentally resilient, and economically robust rural places.
Headwaters Economics
Rural Capacity Map
A new Rural Capacity Index was created to measure the capacity of local governments — staffing, resources, expertise — for implementing additional investment projects.
2023 Wisconsin Office of Outdoor Recreation
Small Changes, Big Impact for a More Accessible Outdoors
Experts share the criteria and considerations to incorporate into planning, design and construction to create more welcoming experiences for people with a variety of disabilities, as well as what information can be provided in marketing materials to help more outdoorists and their families prepare for an outing.
Explore the Trends Shaping Outdoor Recreation
Outdoor Industry Association: 2025 Outdoor Participation Trends Report
Bureau of Economic Analysis: 2024 Economic Statistics for Wisconsin
Adventure Travel Trade Association: Travel Market Sizing and the New Adventure Traveler
KOA: 2025 Camping & Outdoor Hospitality Report
American Sportfishing Association: Economic Contributions of Recreational Fishing
Measure What Matters
