Thirteen outdoor industry associations, coalitions and nonprofits have joined forces to create the Outdoor Recreation Industry Roundtable, pledging to strategically work together for the benefit of American outdoor recreation as a whole.
The groups include: American Horse Council, American Recreation Coalition, American Sportfishing Association, Archery Trade Association, International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association, Motorcycle Industry Council, Outdoor Industry Association, National Marine Manufacturers Association, National Park Hospitality Association, National Shooting Sports Foundation, Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association, Recreation Vehicle Dealers Association and Specialty Vehicle Institute of America.
Collectively, Roundtable members represent the thousands of U.S. businesses that produce and provide equipment, gear, apparel, vehicles and services for the 142 million Americans who enjoy our nation’s parks, waterways and byways. Spanning outdoor recreational activities such as boating, fishing, hunting, camping, archery, shooting sports, trail sports, snow sports and powersports, and including the various recreational vehicles, outdoor equipment and clothing used to pursue these activities, the Outdoor Recreation Industry Roundtable is dedicated to growing diverse outdoor participation, expanding recreational access for Americans, promoting conservation, and bolstering sustainable domestic jobs, officials said. They added that outdoor recreation is an “economic powerhouse” in the United States, generating $646 billion per year in economic activity and providing an estimated 6.1 million direct jobs.
“One of the primary goals of the Outdoor Recreation Industry Roundtable is to drive a business-led agenda for recreation and to work directly with the new Trump Administration and Congress,” said Frank Hugelmeyer, president of the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association. “It is more important now than ever to invest in America’s booming outdoor recreation economy and no one is better positioned to identify ways to drive growth than the actual businesses that serve the lifestyle and create the jobs.” In support of this goal, the Roundtable sent letters to Vice President-elect Mike Pence, the leader of the Trump transition team, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Speaker Paul Ryan requesting meetings and outlining the strategic efforts the Roundtable will pursue on behalf of the outdoor recreation industry.
In the coming weeks, the Roundtable partners will share several white papers that address important areas of focus for maintaining a healthy outdoor recreation economy, including issues like campground modernization. All of the white papers and more information about the Outdoor Recreation Industry Roundtable can be found at rvia.org/ORIR.
Photo by David Clucas
