The Institute of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism at Utah State University provides specialized research and technical assistance to help land managers and community leaders manage the environmental and economic impacts of outdoor recreation. Through visitor monitoring, capacity analysis, and economic development studies, the Institute aims to support sustainable tourism and data-driven decision-making across the Intermountain West.
Visitor Monitoring and Management
The Institute offers a suite of management services designed to provide agencies with defensible information regarding visitor volume and patterns. According to the Institute, these monitoring services help communities understand the timing, characteristics, and spending habits of visitors to ensure investments create lasting public value.
Analyzing Recreation Capacity
A primary focus of the Institute involves capacity analysis to help partners understand the physical and operational limits of various recreation settings. This work includes estimating access and parking capacity in high-demand areas and identifying temporal pressure points or emerging management thresholds that may impact the visitor experience.
Economic Development and Planning
Beyond physical management, the Institute conducts economic development studies to assist communities in thinking strategically about tourism growth. These studies assess the economic impacts of proposed recreation investments and evaluate development scenarios, including potential bottlenecks and implementation trade-offs. The data provided includes information on regional opportunities, jobs, income, and tax revenues to support locally grounded planning.
Historical Context and Academic Role
The Institute is part of Utah State University, the state's only land-grant, R1 research university. The organization's roots in the region trace back to the late 1960s, when the university established the Recreation Resource Management program, which was the first academic program in the nation dedicated to the study of outdoor recreation resources.
Legislative Mandate and Mission
In 1998, the Utah Legislature formally recognized the Institute's mission through the Recreation and Tourism Research and Extension Program Act (S.B. 35). This legislative mandate requires the Institute to advance research on the economic, social, and environmental impacts of tourism and outdoor recreation, while supporting public land managers in balancing conservation needs with public access.
Future Leadership and Policy
The Institute's interdisciplinary research is intended to provide data-driven insights to policymakers at municipal, state, and federal levels. By preparing the next generation of leaders through workforce training and hands-on engagement, the Institute seeks to ensure that Utah's outdoor recreation and tourism industries remain competitive and sustainable as the landscape evolves.
Institute Leadership and Staffing
The Institute is currently led by Director and Professor Jordan W. Smith, Ph.D., and Assistant Director Chase C. Lamborn, Ph.D. The organization employs various faculty and specialists to support its research and extension missions, including GNAR Coordinator Elizabeth Sodja and several faculty members across various departments.
