Economic impacts of active recreation in Victoria
Many Victorians get significant value from doing active recreation. We know that active recreation and sport generate a multitude of benefits that contribute to better health, wellbeing, social and economic outcomes in Victoria, both for Victorians and for people who visit Victoria.
What has not been known until now is the economic value of the benefits that active recreation generates in Victoria. Nor have we known how those economic benefits are distributed across the state, or how benefits are broadly distributed between individuals, businesses and government. We have also not known how additional investment in active recreation can create health, wellbeing, social and economic returns on investment that more than offset the investment costs.
Sport and Recreation Victoria, in the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), commissioned Marsden Jacob Associates to establish the economic value of active recreation to Victoria. Our analysis quantifies the contribution of active recreation to the Victorian economy as direct and indirect revenue and employment from retail sales, tourism and event and activity participation, as well as the value of health, wellbeing and social benefits.
Our work also includes an analysis of potential return on investment and an assessment of the impact of movements in the levels of active recreation participation.
Active recreation in Victoria is extremely diverse. It can be undertaken alone or with others, and ranges from walking, yoga and barefoot bowls to trail running, cycling, parkour and abseiling. As distinct from competition sport, active recreation is engaged in for relaxation, health and wellbeing or enjoyment. The primary activity requires physical exertion, and the primary focus is on human activity.