Michigan offers more than 8 million acres of publicly accessible lands, 12,000 miles of trails, 3,288 miles of Great Lakes shoreline and more, all of which generate $26.6 billion a year in consumer spending. This huge economic impact has led the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to create the new Office of Outdoor Recreation Industry.
“Every year, millions of Michiganders spend their summers swimming and kayaking in our Great Lakes, hiking and biking on our trails, and climbing the dunes on Lake Michigan,” says Gov. Whitmer. “And it’s not just Michiganders, people come here from all over the world because of the outdoor experiences our state has to offer.”
The new Office of Outdoor Recreation Industry will work to: Expand the outdoor recreation economy in the state; bring awareness to the value of the businesses that support the industry; anticipate emerging recreation trends; promote outdoor recreation activities; and create support for the stewardship of the state’s natural resources.
The new office will be overseen in part by Michigan’s Outdoor Recreation Advisory Council, which was established in 2018.
For more information, visit Michigan.gov/MI-OutdoorRec.
