The Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) is “a force for the industry in recreation and trade policy, sustainable business innovation and increasing outdoor participation” on a national level. We are proud to be working in the same space of Recreation Economy advocacy here in Whatcom County and Washington State. Below is the information they publish about the State of Washington’s Outdoor Recreation Economy. 

You can also keep up to data on local and state policy here: OutdoorIndustry.org/state/Washington, which also directs you to Legislator Lookups, Congressional District Reports and the Washington State Recreation Report. 

In Washington, outdoor recreation generates $26.2 B in consumer spending annually. More jobs in Washington depend on outdoor recreation (201,000) than on the aerospace industry (136,000). These businesses contribute $7.6 B in wages and salaries, generating $2.3 B in state and local tax revenue.

Washington residents are more likely to participate in camping and day hiking than the average American.

“OIA was founded in 1989 by a group of 14 visionary outdoor industry pioneers who created the association to be a unified, collaborative, pre-competitive voice to help guide the industry. Today, OIA is the voice of the outdoor recreation industry, both locally and in Washington D.C., serving more than 1200 manufacturers, retailers distributors, suppliers, sales representatives, nonprofits and outdoorists.” OIA History

“OIA is dedicated to industry-wide collaboration in order to achieve meaningful change in recreation and trade policy, sustainable business innovation and increasing outdoor participation.” Read the OIA annual report to learn more about their work and mission.

Read more about how Recreation Northwest is working to bring the outdoor recreation community together to learn from each other, raise the profile of this key sector of our economy and advocate for the value of outdoor recreation and our public lands at the state and local level. Recreation Northwest.org/Recreation-Economy

Mark your calendar: 

Monthly (Oct – Mar) Basecamp events 

Saturday, February 23rd Recreation Northwest Expo

Tuesday, March 19th Washington Outdoor Summit