The economic outlook of the great outdoors

About this episode

The episode discusses the outdoor recreation economy in the Western United States and the pressures it faces, including climate change and policies from the Trump administration.

Are you team camping or glamping? On today’s show, we’re checking in on the outdoor recreation economy in the Western United States. KUNC’s Mountain West News Bureau reporter Rachel Cohen joins Kimberly to unpack the pressures facing the industry, from climate change to Trump administration policies. Plus, will President Trump’s new $100 foreign tourist fee hurt national parks? Here’s everything we talked about today: "The Mountain West’s outdoor economy continues to grow – but pace may be slowing" from KUNC "Ski resorts gain year-round adaptability in Forest Service rule" from KUNC "Visits to national parks dipped slightly in 2025—after a record-breaking year" from KUNC "Forest Service plans to move D.C. headquarters to Salt Lake City" from KUNC We love hearing from you. Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email makemesmart@marketplace.org .

People in this episode

Host: Kimberly

Guest: Rachel Cohen

Topics covered

• outdoor recreation economy
• climate change
• Trump administration policies
• national parks
• tourism
• ski resorts

Keywords

• outdoor economy
• camping
• glamping
• national parks
• tourist fee
• climate change
• ski resorts

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: KUNC, Trump administration, Forest Service

Places: Western United States, Salt Lake City

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