Office of Governor Tony Evers
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 29, 2026 
Contact: [email protected] 
 
Gov. Evers Delivers Weekly Radio Address, Urges Trump Administration to Release 2024 Outdoor Recreation Economic Data
 
Audio File of Radio Address.

MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers today delivered his weekly radio address, urging the Trump Administration to release 2024 Outdoor Recreation economic data. Earlier this week, Gov. Evers sent a letter to the Trump Administration urging the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) to release the 2024 Outdoor Recreation Satellite Account, which offers economic reporting and analysis of Wisconsin’s more than $11 billion outdoor recreation industry. Without this information and data, this vital industry in Wisconsin is left to plan and make decisions with an inadequate view of the business and economic landscape, limiting opportunities for future success. Over the past two weeks, Gov. Evers and Wisconsin Department of Tourism Secretary Anne Sayers have been visiting winter recreation destinations across the state to underscore the importance of winter recreation to Wisconsin’s outdoor recreation industry.

Since 2018, the Outdoor Recreation Satellite Account has provided essential economic data on the outdoor recreation industry, and according to data released in 2024 by the BEA, outdoor recreation contributed more than $11 billion to Wisconsin’s economy in 2023. Unfortunately, due to the Trump Administration’s continued obstruction of important economic data reporting, the annual release of outdoor recreation impact data has been delayed, and the economic value and data of Wisconsin’s multi-billion-dollar outdoor recreation industry for 2024 is not yet available for stakeholders, local partners, and state agencies to utilize.

The governor’s letter comes as the Wisconsin Office of Outdoor Recreation recently released the second annual report from the Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Economic Impact Program, finding visitors and residents drive over $49.1 million in economic activity through outdoor recreation at rural and urban outdoor destinations in Dane, Door, Iron, Oconto, Oneida, and Vilas counties. This data emphasizes the importance of local data to supplement the absence of federal insight and leadership. While these DIY reports are great for Wisconsin communities to find their local data, they do not make up for the lack of statewide data from the BEA, and it is imperative that the state receives the 2024 report immediately so that the state and industry partners can continue making the strategic investments to support this growing industry.

Gov. Evers has made investing in the state’s tourism industry, including the outdoor recreation industry, a top priority of his administration, and in 2019, Gov. Evers created the Office of Outdoor Recreation at the Wisconsin Department of Tourism to serve as a central hub for Wisconsin’s outdoor recreation industry, working with stakeholders and providing resources to bolster Wisconsin as a top outdoor recreation destination. The 2025-27 Biennial Budget, signed by Gov. Evers, provided funding and staffing to make the Office of Outdoor Recreation a permanent office for the first time in state history.

Gov. Evers’ letter to the Trump Administration is available here.

Hey there, folks! Governor Tony Evers here.

Outdoor recreation is a powerhouse of our economic development and prosperity in our state, especially during the winter months when skiing, skating, and snowmobiling are king.

Across our state, outdoor recreation drives our local economies while helping boost the mental and physical health of Wisconsinites.

That’s why I created the Office of Outdoor Recreation in 2019, and I am thrilled that our last budget made this office permanent, so we can continue to work with partners to uplift this critical industry.

To capture the economic value of our local destinations, the Office of Outdoor Recreation just released the second annual Do-It-Yourself Economic Impact Report.

These reports detail more than $49 million in economic activity generated by visitation to individual outdoor destinations in six Wisconsin counties.

This underscores the magnitude and reach of the outdoor recreation economy because every visit means more restaurant visits, local small business purchases, and full hotels in our local communities.

All told, according to the last statewide data we received from the federal government, in 2023, outdoor recreation was more than a $11 billion industry in our state.

Unfortunately, our statewide 2024 data continues to be delayed due to President Trump and Republicans’ federal government shutdown and cuts to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Without this data, this vital industry in Wisconsin is left to plan and make decisions with an inadequate view of the business and economic landscape, limiting opportunities for future success.

So, I’m urging the Trump Administration to release this data without delay.

Together, we’re going to keep working to make sure Wisconsin’s outdoor recreation economy continues to thrive for years to come.

Thank you.  
 
An online version of this release is available here.
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