Maine’s outdoor recreation industry is on a steady upward trajectory but faces national headwinds including inflation and shifting consumer behavior, as documented in two reports released this week.
In 2024, Maine’s outdoor recreation industry generated $3.9 billion in value-added, accounting for 4% of the state’s GDP and supporting more than 32,000 jobs, according to the latest data from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis.
That was the largest recorded measure for Maine since the agency started calculating the size of the nation’s outdoor recreation economy in 2012.
Maine’s outdoor recreation economy has almost doubled since 2012, according to a news release.
The industry is on a steady upward trajectory. In 2021, it generated $2.8 billion in economic output, representing a 19.3% jump over 2020 and accounting for 26,090 jobs.
In 2022, spending on outdoor recreation surged 16.5% to generate $3.3 billion in gross domestic product and 29,080 jobs.
From 2022 to 2023, the industry grew 9%, creating $3.4 billion for Maine’s economy and accounting for 29,863 jobs.
Planning guide
The data help inform the industry about areas of the economy, from outdoor gear manufacturing and retail to skiing, camping, cycling and boating, said Jeff McCabe, director of the Maine Office of Outdoor Recreation.
“These important measures, combined with the work to implement the state’s outdoor recreation roadmap, will guide strategic planning and investments for a strong and sustainable future,” McCabe said.
The roadmap is a 10-year plan unveiled in 2025 by a coalition of stakeholders — led by Maine Outdoor Brands, Maine’s Office of Outdoor Recreation, the University of Maine, Maine’s Bureau of Parks and Lands, Maine Technology Institute and the Maine Marine Trades Association — looking to grow the industry.
“The latest data reinforces what many of us see every day: Outdoor recreation is central to Maine’s identity and a powerful economic driver,” said Jenny Kordick, executive director of Maine Outdoor Brands.
Top activities
Boating and fishing topped the list of actives in 2024, contributing $390 million to the state’s GDP. Other top contributors include RVing, son activities and hunting and shooting.
“Outdoor recreation supports our economy, quality of life and communities across the state,” Kordick said. “The opportunity ahead is enormous, and continued investment in access, outdoor infrastructure and innovative businesses will help ensure Maine remains a premier place to live, work and build a business connected to the outdoors.”
Nationwide picture
At the national level, the latest figures show that outdoor recreation generated $1.3 trillion in economic output, or 2.4% of GDP, and accounted for 5.2 million jobs in 2024.
The data marked slower but still increasing growth and demand, according to a separate press release.
For the industry, slowing growth reflects macro headwinds: inflation, interest rates, business uncertainty and shifting consumer behavior in the post-pandemic recovery.
Demand is still strong and participation remains high, but affordability might be a barrier. For recreation-focused businesses, profit margins are tight.
Still, since 2012 outdoor recreation has grown 43.3% in real terms and 84.2% in nominal terms.
Segment variability matters: manufacturing-heavy segments such as RVing and boating were slightly lower, while hunting, snowmobiling and tent camping showed some growth.
