Wisconsin’s outdoor recreation industry grew 3.8% in 2024, breaking records for the third year in a row.
Gov. Tony Evers and the Wisconsin Department of Tourism Secretary Anne Sayers and Wisconsin Office of Outdoor Recreation Director Cassie Mordini made the announcement Monday.
According to the latest data from the Outdoor Recreation Satellite Account from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), outdoor recreation contributed more than $12 billion to Wisconsin’s gross domestic product in 2024.
“Across every corner of Wisconsin, from our lakes and rivers to our parks, trails and snowy slopes, outdoor recreation is a part of our DNA, and it’s essential to the health and well-being of our economy and our communities,” Evers said in a statement.
In 2024, Wisconsin tourism hit a record-high $25.8 billion in total economic effect, surpassing previous record years in 2023 and 2022. The state also welcomed a record-breaking 114.4 million visits and generated a record $1.7 billion in state and local revenue.
Additionally, all topline metrics for the outdoor recreation industry in 2024 in Wisconsin were record-breaking, including 100,139 jobs supported — up 1.6%, and $5.7 billion in employee compensation — up 5.3%.
