The Sport and Recreation Alliance was delighted to launch the Reconomics 3.0 report in Parliament, outlining the enormous economic, health and social value of outdoor recreation.
The Reconomics 3.0 report was commissioned by the members of the Sport and Recreation Alliance's Water Recreation and Outdoor Pursuits divisions (now our Outdoor Recreation division) and has been produced in partnership with Leeds Beckett University. This report builds on the groundbreaking Reconomics report, launched in 2014, as well as Reconomics 2.0, which was launched in 2017. Over the previous eight years, there have been numerous changes to the sector, including greater demand for outdoor space, increasing costs and the impacts of climate change, that have necessitated an update to the previous reports.
View the summary of the Reconomics 3.0 report here, and the full report here.
You can also view Reconomics (2014) and Reconomics Plus (2017).
Take a look at some of the headline findings from Reconomics 3.0 below:
As part of their blend of activities, 34 million people participate in some form of outdoor recreation, including 1.9 million children. This represents an increase of 3.1 million compared to 10 years ago, driven by the emergence of adventure activities such as paddle boarding (SUPing), open water swimming, bouldering, and fell running. The diversity of participants has also risen sharply, with an average of 22% growth in participation across ethnic minority groups, compared to 10 years ago.
Outdoor recreation is a significant contributor to the economy, especially in rural areas. In terms of the density of businesses related to outdoor recreation, the top seven are all ‘rural’ local authorities (including the Highlands, Cornwall, Lake District Westmorland and Furness, Cumberland) and areas of National Parks in Wales.
Outdoor recreation generates enormous social value. Alongside the headline figures here, it also produces savings to the NHS valued at over £5 billion. Notably, outdoor recreation substantially over indexes on conditions that impact people aged 65+ including over 38,000 cases of dementia, and over 17,000 cases of hip fractures. Further, the preventative dividend of outdoor recreation is estimated to prevent almost 15 million GP visits per year.
The report also highlights a number of case studies that illustrate these findings in the real world, featuring several of the Alliance’s Outdoor Recreation Division.
Commenting on the launch of the report, Alliance CEO, Lisa Wainwright MBE said:
“Outdoor recreation is one of the UK’s greatest assets, enriching lives and supporting wellbeing, communities and local economies across the country. Reconomics 3.0 provides compelling evidence of the sector’s, and our members’ immense economic, social and health value, at a time when pressures on public health, the environment and social cohesion are growing. I am proud of the collaborative effort behind this research, and hope its findings will now inform policy, guide investment and act as a call to protect and promote outdoor recreation as a cornerstone of a healthier, more resilient nation.”
Chair of the Outdoor Recreation division, Ben Seal, Paddle UK said:
"Reconomics 3.0. makes a clear case for outdoor recreation as an accessible and effective solution to many of the major challenges in public health, environmental sustainability, and social cohesion that we are currently facing."
Reconomics 3.0. Sponsor Organisations:
- Paddle UK
- Swim England
- British Mountaineering Council
- Outdoor Industries Association
- British Gliding Association
- Great Britain Outrigger
- Countryside Alliance
- British Horse Society
- 93FT
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