The MADE X MTNS (Made By Mountains) partnership published the results of its Western North Carolina Outdoor Recreation Participation Survey. This report was conducted in partnership with the Center for Economic Research & Policy Analysis at Appalachian State University and the Institute of Tourism and Recreation Research at the University of Montana.
Its purpose is to establish a foundational dataset that supports the economic impact of outdoor recreation participation in the region.
Survey results reflect $4.9 billion in economic output, 48,000 full-time jobs created and $197.5 million in county-level tax revenues across the region, all generated through outdoor recreation. The organizations also focused on:
- Average amount of time and money spent by visitors to the region.
- Popular outdoor recreation activities such as day hiking, nature viewing, scenic driving, fishing, vehicle camping, motorized boating, backpacking and mountain biking.
“These results go beyond numbers; they’re a driving force for the region’s progress,” said MADE X MTNS Partnership Director, Amy Allison. “Using this momentum, we aim to support a brighter, healthier future for WNC communities and economies. Providing our communities with this data empowers them to tell a complete story to advocate effectively for opportunities to advance their outdoor recreation priorities.”
The survey targeted outdoor recreation participants across 25 counties and the Qualla Boundary, capturing insight from 1,786 respondents across key states such as Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia that represented visitors to WNC.
“The researcher-created survey of visitation to the region generates economic modeling and provides a comprehensive analysis of the economic values associated with outdoor recreation across the region that shows demand,” noted Center for Economic Research and Policy Analysis director, Ash Morgan. “This unique data is valuable in helping individual counties better understand the economic contribution of their outdoor recreation infrastructure, and can be used to aid future decision-making with respect to the potential benefits of investments in future opportunities.”
The Building Outdoor Communities Program of the MADE X MTNS Partnership supports Western North Carolina community leaders in leveraging natural assets and collaborating to advance outdoor community and economic development goals. These are generally centered around healthy people and places, by aligning key stakeholders, identifying priorities and developing implementation guidance to advance the work at the county and regional scale.
The MADE X MTNS Partnership will further expand on its work in 2024 with Mountain BizWorks serving as a host organization to ERC fellow, Allison Smith, who joins the team via the Economic Recovery Corps Fellowship, a program launched in 2023 through the International Economic Development Council in partnership with the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA).
To access the report, click here.
