An Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR) member survey, in partnership with the Oregon State University Outdoor Recreation Economy Initiative, has revealed that the outdoor recreation industry is facing dramatically decreased sales and revenue, difficulties with production and distribution, and large numbers of furloughs and layoffs.
The ORR surveyed its member trade associations — representing over 100,000 businesses from RVing and camping to boating and fishing to hunting and biking — about the impacts their organizations and member companies have felt since the pandemic began. According to the responses of the 20 participating national outdoor recreation trade associations, representing businesses with nearly 2 million employees, the impact is startling:
- Of the businesses this survey represents, 89 percent are experiencing difficulty with production and distribution, with 68 percent experiencing significant impacts.
- 79 percent of these businesses have laid off or furloughed a portion of their workforce, with 11 percent closing or laying off most of or all of their staff.
- 89 percent of outdoor industry businesses are experiencing a decrease in sales, with 39 percent seeing a decrease of 50-75 percent or greater.
- 80 percent of outdoor industry trade associations are seeing a decrease in revenue with 30 percent seeing a decrease of 50-75 percent or greater.
Typically, the ORR says, a point of pride for the outdoor industry is its connection and relationship with rural and “gateway” communities. Unfortunately, because fewer Americans are able to recreate in these places, and retail is closed, rural communities are suffering. In addition, some recreation based communities are seeing disproportionate increases in unemployment averaging 57 percent in Colorado and 25 percent in New Mexico.
The ORR is currently working on smart fixes to the CARES Act to help more small businesses in our sector. The ORR is also urging Congress to take further action to help the outdoor recreation industry and rural partners by passing the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) as soon as possible. The GAOA includes essential funding for the maintenance backlog on public lands that will help to stimulate local communities. It also provides full funding to the Land and Water Conservation Fund, ensuring that projects that bolster recreation dependent communities across the country will get done as Americans seek to get outside away from crowds and practice safe social distancing and healthy outdoor recreation in the coming months.
