Maine’s outdoor recreation economy generated $3.9 billion in 2024 and is growing faster than industry leaders anticipated.

Federal data released this month shows the sector added 4% to the state’s gross domestic product that year, ranking Maine sixth in the nation. The only states where outdoor recreation accounted for a larger share of the economy were Hawaii, Alaska, Montana, Vermont and Wyoming, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

The numbers were big news for those trying to establish outdoor recreation as a pillar of the state’s economy.

“It’s great to see momentum building,” Jenny Kordick, executive director of Maine Outdoor Brands, a business alliance with more than 200 members, said Tuesday. “It’s been no secret for us that we’re facing some headwinds. We have inflation, there’s been tariffs, there’s a lot of consumer uncertainty right now. To see just continued growth in the sector is really encouraging.”

Data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, which started studying the outdoor recreation sector in 2012, contributed to the formation of Maine Outdoor Brands and the establishment of the state Office of Outdoor Recreation. In January 2025, those two organizations and other partners launched the state’s 10-Year Outdoor Recreation Economy Roadmap, which set a goal to grow the sector 10% by 2035.

The bureau initially valued the outdoor recreation economy in Maine at $3.4 billion in 2023. The latest data also included adjustments to past years based on additional data, which brought the 2023 value to about $3.8 billion.

The increase to $3.9 billion in 2024 represented nearly 4% growth in one year. The outdoor recreation sector accounted for more than 32,000 jobs in Maine in 2024, nearly 5% of the state’s workforce, according to the federal data.

State officials said they expect the bureau to release data for 2025 in the fall.

“I think this shows that we should be setting higher expectations for ourselves with the opportunity this industry creates,” Kordick said. “We are one that has the potential to grow even faster than the state’s economic growth.”

The most lucrative activities in Maine in 2024 were boating and fishing, RVing and snow activities, according to the federal data. The largest growth occurred in hunting, shooting and trapping, which generated $64 million that year — a 37% increase from the previous year. Guided tours and outfitted travel were also up 17% and contributed $114 million.

“We can support outdoor recreation activities all year round and across different landscapes,” Kordick said.

The roadmap outlined more than a dozen strategies that are still in the works, such as building infrastructure and creating more career opportunities and job training.

Last year, stakeholders conducted a workforce needs assessment and developed a new communications plan, among other projects spearheaded by the state and by private entities.

“These important measures, combined with the work to implement the state’s Outdoor Recreation Roadmap, will guide strategic planning and investments for a strong and sustainable future,” Jeff McCabe, director of the Maine Office of Outdoor Recreation, said in a news release last week.

An industry summit in January convened more than 400 government officials, policymakers, educators, business owners, nonprofit workers, brand representatives and outdoor enthusiasts to talk about how to grow the sector despite economic and logistical challenges.

“We’re continuing to see new partners come into the conversation,” McCabe said in an interview Tuesday.