Snowmobilers Spent $249.5 Million in Wisconsin in 2000-2001 Season
The economic impact of snowmobiling expenditures during the 2000-2001 season totaled almost $249.5 million. The Department of Tourism, with the assistance of the Department of Natural Resources, surveyed 1,359 snowmobilers who registered a snowmobile or purchased a snowmobile pass from January-April, 2001. The survey helped determine the economic impact snowmobilers have on Wisconsin's economy. The figures relate only to the snowmobilers' expenditures made during snowmobile trips.
- During the 2000-2001 snowmobiling season, 222,447 Wisconsin residents and 73,963 non-residents registered snowmobiles in the state. In addition, 59,623 non-residents purchased a Wisconsin snowmobile pass.
- Traveling snowmobilers include Wisconsin residents who traveled outside their local area as well as non-residents. Wisconsin residents who snowmobiled outside their local area, on average, snowmobiled two days per month compared to non-residents who snowmobiled six days per month.
- Wisconsin residents accounted for 75 percent of the snowmobilers.
- Local snowmobilers typically had a party size of three people vs. traveling snowmobilers with four people.
- Out-of-state snowmobilers had the highest average party size with 5.7 people.
- Fourteen percent of the snowmobiling parties had children under the age of 13 in their group.
- The average age of the snowmobiler was 34.
- Fifty-two percent of snowmobile visitors stayed in unpaid accommodations while 38 percent stayed in paid lodgings. The remaining visitors were day trippers.
- The average number of nights traveling snowmobilers spent away from home was three.
- Overnight visitors were just as likely to stay at a hotel/motel/resort (32 percent) as they were at a vacation home/cabin/condominium that they own (32 percent).
Per Day/Per Snowmobiler Expenditure
Food / beverage Traveling Snowmobilers 28.54 Local Snowmobilers 18.77
Recreation Traveling 18.47 Local 7.36
Shopping Traveling 13.60 Local 3.46
Transportation Traveling 11.63 Local 10.17
Lodging Traveling 5.83 Local 0.00
Other Traveling 0.16 Local 0.00
Total Traveling $78.23 Local $39.76