Utah strategically invests in outdoor recreation and tourism by funding infrastructure, maintenance, and responsible marketing, ensuring economic growth while preserving natural resources for residents and visitors alike.
Risky outdoor play fosters physical, mental, and social development. Urbanization limits opportunities, but programs like Utah’s EKO Challenge and thoughtful urban planning can reconnect youth with nature.
Tourism drives economies but also threatens the environment. Leveraging a new framework, leaders can focus on sustainable solutions that balance growth with responsibility.
The passage of the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPLORE) Act is a monumental win for outdoor enthusiasts, public land managers, and the recreation industry.
In October 2024, we launched a new conference experience for those interested in the future of outdoor recreation management and gateway community development in the Western U.S. The Basecamp Conference and Workshops is a new space for honest discussions about how we plan for, and build outdoor recreation opportunities and amenity-focused development in the West. The conference is different in many ways to what academics, industry leaders, and resource management agencies are familiar with.
Our purpose is to provide accurate, research-based information about tourism and outdoor recreation issues to the Utah State Legislature and state agencies. We provide data and expertise to help communities balance the economic, social, and environmental tradeoffs of tourism development. We use an interdisciplinary approach, with research and analysis on outdoor recreation and tourism, a complex sector of the state's economy.
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