Texas' economic impact from outdoor recreation
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Outdoor recreation's impact on the Texas economy reached $55.8 billion in 2023.
Why it matters: The industry now accounts for 2.16% of Texas' economy — up from 2.02% in 2012, according to a U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) report released last week.
By the numbers: Texas' outdoor recreation industry and related tourism contributed 389,128 jobs, or 2.7% of total employment, in 2023.
- Boating and fishing ($2.8 billion) and RVing ($2.5 billion) are the top activities contributing to the impact in Texas, followed by hunting, shooting and trapping.
Context: The report considered activities like gardening and outdoor concerts when calculating economic impact, as well as construction, travel and tourism that contribute to more traditional outdoor activities.
Zoom in: Texas ranks first in the nation for economic impact in three specific categories: hunting, shooting and trapping ($1.7 billion), equestrian activities ($591 million) and recreational flying ($395 million).
What they're saying: "Fishing is one of America's oldest and most treasured pastimes," Glenn Hughes, president of the American Sportfishing Association, said in a statement. "More than 57 million Americans cast a line in our nation's rivers, ponds, lakes and oceans each year, delivering a huge economic output."
Yes, but: The proportion of people who hunt and fish in Texas lags behind the state's population growth, per the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD). That could mean problems for natural resource conservation, which is largely funded by hunting and fishing licenses and taxes.
- The state saw a surge in outdoor recreation thanks to the pandemic, but there hasn't been a significant long-term increase in hunters and fishers, per TPWD.
The big picture: The outdoor recreation industry is now valued at $1.2 trillion nationwide, accounting for 2.3% of the U.S. economy and 5 million jobs, the BEA report found.
- The 3.6% year-over-year growth exceeded that of the U.S. economy as a whole, which grew at 2.9% in 2023.
- The top activities at the national level are boating and fishing and RVing, while the fastest growing are bicycling, snow sports and hunting.
Between the lines: Outdoor advocates created the Great American Outdoors Act, passed in 2020, to invest billions in upgrading the country's national parks.
- The funding for repairs and maintenance expires in 2025, and conservationists are pushing for its reauthorization.
What's next: Public lands advocates are pushing Congress to finalize approval of the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPLORE) Act, which passed the U.S. House in April.
- The legislation represents the largest measure ever to support outdoor recreation and would update management policies and invest more money in recreational spaces.