Copyright 1996-2023
The Maine Snowmobile Association
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The Wait is Over. |
The contribution of snowmobiling to Maine's economy was over $606 million
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An Economic Evaluation of Snowmobiling in Maine:
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An Update for 2018-2019 Released February 15th 2020
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| Conducted by Ian Hathaway, Dr. Jessica Leahy, Dr. Mindy S. Crandall
University of Maine University of Maine - School of Forest Resources |
University of Maine, Orono, Maine 04469-5782
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Commissioned by the State of Maine Snowmobile Program and the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
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Executive Summary
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Snowmobiling has been a popular winter pastime in Maine for decades. During the 2018-2019
snowmobiling season, nearly 60,000 snowmobiles were registered in Maine by resident
snowmobilers, and over 25,000 snowmobiles were registered by non-residents. Since the 1998
report An Economic Evaluation of Snowmobiling in Maine, overall registrations have increased,
and registrations among non-residents have more than doubled.
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There has been no comprehensive evaluation of snowmobiling in Maine since the 1998 report
completed by the University of Maine in collaboration with the Maine Snowmobile Association
and State of Maine Snowmobile Program. In order to update the information on snowmobiling
related expenditures, the sociodemographic characteristics of snowmobilers in Maine, and the
opinions of Maine snowmobilers on snowmobiling tourism infrastructure and issues related to
snowmobiling in Maine today, a new study was commissioned by the State of Maine
Snowmobile Program and the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
through the University of Maine's School of Forest Resources. The results are contained in this
report.
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The results conclude that snowmobiling generated $459 million in direct spending across many
sectors during the 2018-2019 season. Accounting for indirect and induced economic activity, the
contribution of snowmobiling to Maine's economy was over $606 million. Snowmobiling
generates a significant amount of spending during the winter in Maine, especially in the rural
areas which benefit from snowmobiling activity. Snowmobile related spending also directly
supports 2,279 jobs in the state of Maine and indirect and induced effects of the spending support
an additional 1,060 jobs.
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Trip-related spending accounts for approximately $209.5 million or about 46% of the total direct
spending for the 2018-2019 season. Trip-related expenditures include but are not limited to,
gas/oil for a snowmobile, gas/oil for a tow vehicle, restaurant purchase, souvenirs, clothing
purchased during the trip, and overnight accommodations. The greatest amount of direct
spending in a single category was snowmobile purchases, which generated approximately $132
million in direct spending.
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