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

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