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Business impacts

  • Economic Analysis of Outdoor Recreation in Washington State 2020 Update

    Megan Lawson, Ph.D.

    This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the economic impact of outdoor recreation in Washington State. The report includes estimates on spending, jobs, income, impact on GDP, consumer surplus, and environmental benefits of outdoor recreation. In 2019, outdoor recreation in Washington contributed $26.5 billion in spending and supported 264,000 jobs, compared to $21.5 billion and… Read more

  • Economic Impact Analysis of The Proposed Pike2Bike Trail

    Megan Lawson, Ph.D.

    This study estimates the economic impact of the proposed 8.5-mile Pike2Bike trail. More than 80% of Fulton and Bedford County residents expressed support for the proposed Pike2Bike trail and 32% of current and potential business owners indicated they may invest in a new business to support the trail if it were developed. Using surveys, IMPLAN,… Read more

  • Advancing Sustainable Development and Protected Area Management with Social Media-Based Tourism Data

    Megan Lawson, Ph.D.

    This study uses social media to measure tourism levels and spatial variation in The Bahamas Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and Andros Island. Social media data from Flickr was found to be well correlated with visitor counts from entrance surveys. Annual visitation to The Bahamas MPAs was estimated to be an average of 383,000 visitor days.… Read more

  • The Economic Value of Trails in Arizona: A Travel Cost Method Study

    Megan Lawson, Ph.D.

    This study estimates the value Arizona residents derive from visiting motorized and non-motorized trails. The authors also estimated total annual trail use, Arizonans’ perceptions of trails, and favorite and most frequented trails. The value for Arizona residents from non-motorized trail use is around $8.3 billion per year; the value from motorized trail use is about… Read more

  • Economic Impacts of Local Park Visitor Spending on Local Communities: A Case of Mississippi Parks

    Megan Lawson, Ph.D.

    This study analyzes the economic impacts of visitor expenditures at local parks operated by the Pat Harrison Waterway District (PHWD) in Mississippi which provide amenities like boat launches, fishing opportunities, camping, and trails. A survey and input-output model from IMPLAN is used to model expenditures. Visitors’ total local spending was estimated to be $5.1 million… Read more

  • Otago Central Rail Trail economic impact and trends survey 2008

    Megan Lawson, Ph.D.

    This study assesses the results from a 2008 survey administered to businesses located near the Otago Central Rail Trail (OCRT) in New Zealand and compares results to a 2005 survey. Data was collected on types of businesses, annual revenue, and business perceptions of the trail. On the OCRT, cyclists were reported to be the most… Read more

  • Regional Community Entrepreneurship through Tourism: The Case of Victoria’s Rail Trails

    Megan Lawson, Ph.D.

    This study summarizes the spending patterns and travel characteristics of respondents cycling on the Murray to the Mountains trail in Australia. A comparison of results to the author’s previous 2003 study on the same trail found that the overall economic contribution per person per trip grew from AUS$203 in 2003 to AUS$483 in 2006, not… Read more

  • Pedestrian and Bicycle Infrastructure: A National Study of Employment Impacts

    Megan Lawson, Ph.D.

    This report estimates the job creation resulting from the construction of bicycle and pedestrian facilities such as bike paths, trails, sidewalks, and related projects. Based on data from transportation and public works departments in 11 cities with 58 projects, the author estimated that on average, these infrastructure projects create 9 in-state jobs for each $1… Read more

  • Economic Impact of the Proposed Run of River Whitewater Park in Skowhegan Maine

    Megan Lawson, Ph.D.

    The study estimates the impact of the proposed Run of River Whitewater Park in Skowhegan, Maine. The park would include infrastructure to support water sports and additional trails to encourage hiking, walking, and cross-country skiing. Run of River was estimated to generate a direct economic impact of nearly $6 million in spending in its first… Read more

  • Economic Impact of Non-Commercial Paddling and Preliminary Economic Impact Estimates of Commercial Paddling in the Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests

    Megan Lawson, Ph.D.

    This study conducts an economic impact analysis of paddling expenditures for both noncommercial and commercial paddlers on rivers in the Nantahala and Pisgah national forests in North Carolina. Results indicated that noncommercial paddler visitors spend an estimated $3.2 million annually across seven rivers. Read more

  • The Economic Impact of the Proposed Chattahoochee Valley Blueway Project

    Megan Lawson, Ph.D.

    This study estimated the economic impacts of the proposed Chattahoochee Valley Blueway paddling trail that flows through parts of Georgia and Alabama. Using an online survey, the author estimated expenditures and potential visitors over four years, assuming marketing will increase the customer base to include counties within a two-hour drive after two years, counties within… Read more

  • Analyzing the Impact of the Firefly Trail on Economic Development in Northeast Georgia

    Megan Lawson, Ph.D.

    This study details the expected economic impact of the proposed Firefly Trail in Georgia. The report estimated that the construction of the trail will lead to a one-time increase in total economic output by $32 million, create an additional 158 jobs, and will increase household incomes by $6.9 million at the county level. Read more

  • Outdoor Recreation as a Sustainable Export Industry: A Case Study of the Boundary Waters Wilderness

    Megan Lawson, Ph.D.

    In the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW), conservation management and high visitation leads to a substantial regional economic impact. Region visitors were estimated to have spent more than $56 million in the three counties surrounding the BWCAW counties in 2016. The total economic output was $78 million and 1,100 full- and part-time jobs. Read more

  • Diversifying Rural Economies with Natural Resources: The Difference between Local and Regional OHV Trail Destinations

    Megan Lawson, Ph.D.

    This article focuses on the desirable and undesirable characteristics of off-highway-vehicle (OHV) trails from users’ perspectives as well as trail system characteristics that best suit local or regional OHV destinations. The authors found that the main concern of trail users in the local OHV trail system is trail mileage; their results suggest a minimum of… Read more

  • The Economic Impact of Outdoor Recreation in Mesa County

    Megan Lawson, Ph.D.

    To estimate the full economic impact of outdoor recreation across Mesa County, Colorado, researchers measured the impact of both outdoor recreation-related businesses (such as retail trade and manufacturing) and tourism. In 2019, the GDP impact of outdoor recreation was $484,474,065 or 7.2% of total GDP; the direct job impact was 9,897 jobs or 11% of… Read more

  • Bears Ears and Outdoor Recreation in San Juan County, Utah

    Megan Lawson, Ph.D.

    Utah State University researchers found that the creation of the Bears Ears National Monument in San Juan County, Utah, has likely increased outdoor recreation volume and growth in outdoor recreation-related industries. Retail trade, scientific, professional, and technical services as well as food services have all experienced significant economic growth in the three years after the… Read more

  • Characteristics and Behavior of Tourists Who Visited the George S. Mickelson Trail During the 2005 Peak Season

    Megan Lawson, Ph.D.

    The George S. Mickelson Trail (GSMT) is a multipurpose recreational trail that spans 114 miles across South Dakota beginning in the Black Hills. Researchers compiled survey data from 2,388 trail users who resided outside of the Black Hills Region. They analyzed the perceptions and use patterns of tourism activity on the GSMT and found that… Read more

  • The Economic Impact of Snowmobiling in Utah

    Megan Lawson, Ph.D.

    In Utah, snowmobile use generates substantial economic activity that is concentrated in the population centers along the Wasatch Front and accrues largely to equipment, gasoline, and food retailers. Snowmobile registrations have been steady over the past two decades while the state’s population has grown, showing a decline in participation rates across the state. Read more

  • The Economic Impact of Outdoor Recreation and the Whitefish Trail in Whitefish, Montana

    Megan Lawson, Ph.D.

    In Whitefish, Montana, outdoor recreation is the most important reason why residents stay and visitors come to the community. On the Whitefish Trail, 22,000 annual uses by visitors (30% of total use) generates $3.6 million in spending and supports 68 jobs. Read more

  • Trail Usage and Value: A Helena, MT Case Study

    Megan Lawson, Ph.D.

    In Helena, Montana, an 80-mile hiking and mountain biking trail system attracts more than 63,000 trail users during the summer. Seven in 10 users are residents, but visitors who use the trail system account for $4 million in spending, support 60 jobs, and generate $185,000 in state and local taxes. Read more

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