National forest visitor spending averages and the influence of trip-type and recreation activity

Estimates of national forest recreation visitor spending serve as inputs to regional economic analyses and help to identify the economic linkages between national forest recreation use and local forest communities. When completing recreation-related analyses, managers, planners, and researchers frequently think of visitors in terms of recreation activity. When completing recreation visitor spending analyses we argue that visitors should be segmented based primarily on the type of recreation trip taken. Using survey data collected as part of the US Forest Service National Visitor Use Monitoring program we examine the efficacy of trip-type segmentation relative to one based on recreation activity. We show that spending averages developed for activity groups without regard to trip type provide an incomplete picture of recreation visitor spending. Ultimately, trip type is shown to have a greater role in influencing the level of recreation visitor expenditures than recreation activity. Implications for national forest planning and management are discussed.