Value of recreation

ECONOMIC VALUE

Economic value of recreation is mostly indirect because recreation in nature is free of charge in Finland for everyone according to the Everyman's rights. Popular recreational sites such as national parks bring, however, considerable economic benefits to the surrounding area.

It has been studied that one euro spent on the recreation infrastructure in a national park returns to the local economy tenfold in the form of increased demand for accommodation and outdoor activity services, for example. The total local economic impact of the visitors’ spending for the national parks of Finland were 110 million euros in 2012.

Economic value of recreation arises also from the avoided health care costs.

HEALTH VALUE

Recreation has been studied to improve health both physiologically and psychologically. Positive health effects include, for example, decrease of blood pressure and stress hormones, and boost of immune system. Psychological effects are, for example, decrease of negative feelings such as depression, anger, fatigue and restlessness.

SOCIAL VALUE

Recreation is very popular leisure time activity in Finland. Approximately 96% of the Finns have at least one recreational hobby in nature. More than two thirds of Finns visit natural areas at least once a week. (See more in the benefit indicator of recreation.)

The employment effect of recreation is also significant. The total employment effect has not been assessed but, for example, the local employment impact of the recreation in national parks was 1 412 person-years in 2012.

INTRINSIC VALUE