Encouragement for an off-indoor activity

The National Park System (NPS) is celebrating National Park Week this year, marking a significant milestone as the service recorded 331.9 million recreation visits to its sites in the last year. This figure represents a steady increase since the dip in attendance in 2020. In fact, 24 NPS sites set new visitation records last year.

However, the NPS is facing challenges in maintaining its parks and ensuring access for visitors. The service is rehiring many employees back as seasonal workers, but concerns linger about the impact of a reduced workforce on park maintenance and access. With the peak season just beginning, fewer employees could mean fewer operating hours, which would directly impact park revenues that contribute to the recreation economy.

The recreation economy, it seems, is a significant contributor to the nation's economy. It includes spending on products, gear, vehicles, airfare, fuel, lodging, lessons, guides, lift tickets, and food related to outdoor activities like biking, hiking, boating, fishing, skiing, hunting, and camping. The outdoor recreation economy is estimated to have added 2.3%, or $639.5 billion, to the United States' GDP in 2023.

Hiking, in particular, has quickly become one of the nation's most popular outdoor activities. The pandemic has made some outdoor activities even more popular, with an estimated 59.6 million hikers in 2022. States like Montana and Hawaii are seeing the benefits of this trend. In Montana, the recreation economy generates $3.4 billion and accounts for 5.8% of employees in the state. In Hawaii, the recreation economy employs over 49,000 people and accounts for 6.9% of the state's economy.

Despite the positive economic impact, the outdoor recreation industry is not without its controversies. Last week, President Trump signed multiple executive orders aimed at revitalizing coal production, which could potentially impact the NPS and the recreation economy. Trump's previous executive orders focused on identifying coal resources on federal lands and lifting any barriers to mining in those areas.

However, it's important to note that the outdoors contributes to the nation's bottom line, despite executive orders stating that the country isn't utilizing its outdoors properly. The recreation economy contributes to a significant number of jobs, with 7.6 million Americans depending on it for their paychecks. Moreover, more Americans are directly employed by hunting and fishing (483,000) than by oil and gas extraction (180,000), according to the Outdoor Industry Association.

The German states with the largest share of the leisure economy's contribution to GDP and employment are not explicitly listed in the provided search results. However, Bavaria (Bayern) is the economically strongest state with the largest area and a significant GDP of 768.5 billion EUR, indicating a strong economic potential including leisure sectors. More specific data on leisure economy shares by state is not available in the results.

As the NPS navigates these challenges, it continues to offer a wealth of opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts and contributes significantly to the nation's economy. The service's commitment to maintaining and improving its parks ensures that these spaces will continue to provide enjoyment and economic benefits for generations to come.