BusinessTN

"Adventure tourism" in Tennessee has the potential to become big business.

The phrase, used primarily in relation to such activities as kayaking, hang gliding, rock climbing and hiking, also refers to a pastime pursued by folks who enjoy a more environmentally impacting brand of activity: off-highway vehicle (OHV) recreation. State officials seemingly are receptive to creating better opportunities for OHV aficionados, despite some protest from detractors who feel high-impact vehicles can damage eco-systems.

State Rep. Judd Matheny, whose District 47 includes portions of Middle Tennessee popular with outdoor enthusiasts, says all elements of adventure tourism must be considered for a comprehensive approach to be successful.

"Although money is very tight in this economy, tourism pays great returns on investment," Matheny says. "The General Assembly knows this, and we are not only working to protect existing budgets for tourism, but we want additional programs such as adventure tourism to be funded in the future."

Currently, no comprehensive legislation exists in the General Assembly that would, if passed, fully address adventure tourism statewide, while simultaneously outlining an OHV program.

However, OHV4TN is working toward a future that might change that.

"The long-term goal of OHV4TN and other advocacy groups is the creation of a statewide system of sustainable OHV trails," says Michelle Russell, the group’s Monteagle-based executive director.

Russell says that the OHV program, under the direction of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency since 2004, has stagnated.

"Efforts have been made since 2007 to move the program over to the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation in order to fulfill the directives of the 2004 Tennessee Off-Highway Vehicle Act," she says. "We are still working in this direction."

Since 2007, state officials and OHV recreation enthusiasts (including those who ride motorcycles, snowmobiles and all-terrain vehicles) have pushed through improved OHV liability legislation and specialty OHV license plates, Russell says.

"We are waiting to see if the agency switch will be agreed upon in 2010," she adds.

Russell says OHV recreation can generate revenues the state cannot ignore. Tourists spend money in hotels, pay fees, buy gas for their vehicles, purchase equipment, etc. According to a 2006 study titled "The Economic Value of Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation," OHV activity by Arizona residents produced a "high value of consumer surplus to the users, ranging from $54 to $96 per trip."

Despite its popularity (Russell’s group claims about 880,000 Tennesseans 16 and older participate in OHV recreation) and the ability to generate revenue, off-highway vehicle activity has its opponents.

Jeffrey Hunter, a former member of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation's Greenways and Trails Council, says OHV recreation is not an ideal form of adventure tourism, despite revenues it might generate.

"It's a legitimate form of recreation that many thousands of people enjoy," Hunter acknowledges. "[But] off-road vehicles -- when compared to mountain biking, hiking and other forms of non-motorized recreation -- can sort of be at the top of the food chain" in terms of disrupting the eco-system.

"The key is siting the trail system in a location so that users can enjoy themselves and the environment doesn't have to be sacrificed in the process."

Russell counters by describing OHV recreation as "one of the least tapped economic resources that Tennessee has at [its] fingertips."

"Rural, economically challenged counties could greatly benefit from increased adventure tourism opportunities," she says. "There are many gorgeous, under-utilized wilderness areas in Tennessee that could be showcased for this recreational pursuit if everyone would come to the table."