Arkansas outdoor recreation economy was 2.6% of state GDP in 2024

The U.S. outdoor recreation economy accounted for 2.4% of the U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) in 2024, and 2.6% of the Arkansas GDP in 2024, according to a report posted Thursday by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). The 2024 data is the latest available.

Impact of the outdoor recreation economy nationwide was valued at $696.7 billion. The range was 6.1% in Hawaii and 1% in the District of Columbia.

In Arkansas, the value of the outdoor recreation economy was $4.957 billion in 2024, which was 2.6% of the state’s GDP. There were 43,834 Arkansas jobs tied to the outdoor recreation economy in 2024, which was 3.2% of all jobs, according to the BEA report.

Arkansas wages paid in 2024 tied to the outdoor recreation economy totaled $2.277 billion in 2024, or 2.3% of all wages in the state.

Inflation-adjusted GDP for the outdoor recreation economy increased 2.7% in 2024, compared with a 2.8% increase for the overall U.S. economy. The outdoor recreation economy fell from 5.3% in 2023.

Outdoor recreation employment increased in 36 states and the District of Columbia in 2024. Arkansas’ outdoor recreation employment rose 1.2% in 2024. The percent change in outdoor recreation employment ranged from 4.3% in North Dakota to a 4% decline percent in Hawaii.

According to the BEA, outdoor recreation activities are conventional activities such as bicycling, boating, hiking, and hunting; other activities such as gardening and outdoor concerts; and supporting activities such as construction, travel and tourism, local trips, and government expenditures.

In 2024, conventional outdoor recreation accounted for 29.5% of U.S. outdoor recreation value added, compared with 30% in 2023. “Other outdoor recreation” accounted for 19% of value added in 2024, compared with 18.8% in 2023.

Supporting activities accounted for the remaining 51.5% of value added in 2024, compared with 51.2% in 2023. Growth in supporting activities was led by travel and tourism, reflecting growth in spending on transportation, hotels, and restaurants

Following are other items in the BEA report.

• Boating/fishing was the largest conventional activity for the nation at $38.4 billion in current-dollar value added and was the largest conventional activity in 34 states. The states with the largest contributions were Florida ($4.4 billion), California ($3.3 billion), and Texas ($3 billion).
• RVing was the second-largest conventional activity for the nation at $27.5 billion in current-dollar value added and was the largest conventional activity in nine states. The states with the largest contributions were Indiana ($5.2 billion), Texas ($2.7 billion), and California ($2.1 billion).
• Hunting/shooting/trapping was the third-largest conventional activity for the nation at $16.5 billion in current-dollar value added and was the largest conventional activity in Arizona and Wyoming. The states with the largest contributions were Texas ($2 billion), Florida ($974.6 million), and California ($817.5 million).
• Snow activities for the nation was $7.6 billion in current-dollar value added and was the largest conventional activity in four states (Colorado, New Hampshire, Utah, and Vermont). The states with the largest contributions were Colorado ($1.6 billion), California ($730.5 million), and Utah ($598.2 million).
• For the nation, the arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation, and food services industry group was the largest contributor to U.S. outdoor recreation current-dollar value added in 2024, accounting for $174.4 billion, or 25%. The states with the largest contributions were California ($24.1 billion), Florida ($22.7 billion), and New York ($11.8 billion).
• Retail trade was the second-largest industry group for the nation, at $169.1 billion, or 24.3% of value added, and was the largest industry group in 24 states. The states with the largest contributions were California ($19.3 billion), Texas ($14.4 billion), and Florida ($13.4 billion).