New Study Reveals Rising Numbers For OFSC Snowmobiling
2022-2023 At A Glance
- Snowmobiling-related Economic Activity for Ontario: $3B – $6B Annually
- Expenditures by OFSC Snowmobile Trail Riders: $1.48 Billion
- Full Time Jobs Supported by OFSC Snowmobile Trails: 9,307
- Taxes Generated by OFSC Snowmobile Trails: $538 Million
(Barrie, ON. November 9, 2023) – The Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC) has released a new study, “The Economic Impact of Snowmobile Trails in Ontario”, based on expenditure data from the 2022-2023 season. This 2023 report clearly shows that the provincial network of over 30,000 kilometres of OFSC Prescribed Snowmobile Trails is Ontario’s most valuable recreational trail network and a key pillar of our winter tourism economy. As a volunteer-led, not-for-profit association with 181 member organizations, the OFSC manages these premier snowmobile trails, which connect snowbelt communities while providing safe, enjoyable, and environmentally sustainable riding experiences for Ontarians.
The new study found that in the 2022-2023 season, expenditures by snowmobilers riding OFSC snowmobile trails increased to $1.48 billion, up from $843 million in 2019. In turn, these 2022-2023 expenditures resulted in an estimated $3 billion of snowmobiling-related economic activity for Ontario. Meanwhile, snowmobile trails directly supported 9,307 full time jobs in 2022-2023, while generating $538 million in taxes across three levels of government: $239 million in federal taxes, $258 million in provincial taxes, and $41 million in municipal taxes.
Despite low snow conditions in some locations last winter, the $3 billion of 2022-2023 economic activity is almost double that reported in two previous studies: $1.6 billion in 2019 and $1.7 billion in 2014. Therefore, the new study estimates that OFSC snowmobile trails have the potential to generate a total annual economic impact of between $3 billion and $6 billion in any given season, dependent on factors such as weather. For the first time, the study also assessed the total monetary value that OFSC snowmobile club volunteers contribute to Ontario’s economy as more than $16.4 million annually.
“This study reaffirms our position that Ontario’s winter tourism economy runs on snowmobiling,” said Ryan Eickmeier, OFSC CEO. “The economic impact of our snowmobile trails is especially important to rural and northern Ontario, and the contributions our volunteers make each and every year is truly remarkable. ”
The OFSC retained Harry Cummings & Associates (HCA) Ltd to assess the impact of snowmobile trails during the winter of 2022-23, using the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport’s Tourism Regional Economic Impact Model (TREIM). This study is an update to others conducted by HCA in 2014 and 2019, and also includes a breakdown of economic impact numbers for each of the OFSC’s 16 districts.
A copy of the new report can be found here: 2022-2023 Economic Impact Study
The Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC) is a volunteer led, not for profit association that provides the voice for organized snowmobiling in Ontario. OFSC recreational snowmobile trails managed by community based, member clubs can generate up to $6 billion in economic activity in the province each year.
