Updated: 56 minutes ago Published: 56 minutes ago
The Alaska Outdoor Alliance is the state's leading coalition of stakeholders with a keen interest in the vitality of Alaska's outdoor recreation economy. AOA also hosts the statewide Coalition for Active Transportation. For the sixth consecutive year that the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) has released national and state data, Alaska's outdoor recreation sector continues to demonstrate its strength as a contributor to the overall state and nation's economy.
In 2022, outdoor recreation in Alaska generated $2.6 billion in economic output, supported more than 20,000 jobs and accounted for 4% of the state's economy. These statistics are fueled by Alaska's renowned opportunities for recreational boating and fishing, RVing, hiking and camping, hunting, off-road driving, biking, recreational flying, snowblowing and other winter sports. Growth in Alaska's outdoor recreation economy between 2021 and 2022 was the second fastest in the country (behind Hawaii) and exceeded the growth rate of both the state and national economies. Growth in activities classified as sector-supporting by the BEA was led by the travel and tourism industry, reflecting growth in spending on transport, hotels and restaurants.
Access to Alaska's world-famous natural landscape helps recruit and retain young employees and their families, improve the quality of life in cities and rural areas, and sustainably advance Alaska's economy. Over the last decade, voters in communities across the state have repeatedly supported investments in outdoor infrastructure that allows residents and visitors alike to experience Alaska from sea to peak. The investments bring rich dividends and confirm that access to nature is not just a nice-to-have, but an essential must for the physical, mental and economic well-being of our residents and our state.
Scattered throughout Gov. Mike Dunleavy's fiscal year 2025 budget proposal are needed investments in state parks, trails, hunting and fishing, as well as a proposal for a partnership with local governments to improve service to the public by increasing winter maintenance of nearby areas. Walkways at home and off-road paths to everyday destinations. All of these assets contribute to Alaska's year-round outdoor recreation economy, which is an economic multiplier. The Governor's proposed budget will help leverage federal grants and existing state resources that, taken together, represent proven strategies for rural prosperity, thriving cities, workforce development and ecosystem health.
Lee Hart is the director of the Alaska Outdoor Alliance. Steve Cleary is the executive director of Alaska Trails. Michele Stevens is president of the Alaska Snowmachine Alliance.
The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily endorsed by the Anchorage Daily News, which welcomes a wide range of viewpoints. To submit a piece for consideration, email commentary(at)adn.com. Send submissions of less than 200 words to [email protected] or click here to submit from any web browser. Read our full letters and comments guidelines here.
Comments are closed.