Tech & Diversity: 2023 Outdoor Activities Forecast

Each year, the outdoor recreation industry grows, advances, and changes all over the world. We’ve spent a lot of time looking at how the COVID-19 pandemic affected outdoor activities like camping, hiking, exercising, kayaking, and more. Now we’re going to look at the overall trends in outdoor recreation being projected for 2023. We believe that outdoor activities throughout 2023 will see an increasing reliance on technology and social connectedness, as well as a greater need to cater to a changing demographic of outdoor enthusiasts, with a focus on diversity, accessibility, and inclusivity. 

Crowdsourcing Data

Crowdsourced data will see a greater resurgence in popularity and need throughout outdoor recreation in 2023. Crowdsourcing data allows visitors to easily obtain information about specific campsites, trails, activities, and attractions in real-time, thus influencing how they spend their time and money in the outdoors. Crowdsourced data also has the potential to create a shared interest in providing and consuming information that sustains recreational activities. By using social media data, reviews, and data tracking systems like TrailTrends and Google Analytics, outdoor recreation enthusiasts can share key information with each other, and those in the outdoor recreation industry can use that information to create a more valuable experience for their customers. 

Customer Journey Mapping

Outdoor adventure mapping platforms also provide valuable insight to those in the outdoor recreation industry. Customer journey mapping technology allows you to create a reliable guide for hikers, mountain bikers, trail runners, skiers, snowboarders, and more so that their outdoor experiences are enhanced. Customer journey mapping also has the potential to make the visitors’ adventures safer by providing real-time data to others. 

Enhancing the Customer Experience

With more people than ever venturing into the great outdoors, the activities and experiences offered by the outdoor recreation industry must now meet a much wider demand and cater to a more diverse clientele. In 2023, we strongly recommend that anyone in the outdoor recreation industry take certain steps to meet growing demand and enhance the overall customer experience. You can do so by focusing on technology, customizable experiences, incentivizing the customer’s loyalty, offering holistic amenities, and focusing on providing intentional, reliable customer service and immediate value.

Technology and Innovation

We’ve talked about technology and innovation a lot lately, and for good reason. Customers are becoming more accustomed to having access to technology throughout their trip, even in places that used to thrive through their lack of technological access. Customers want to share their experiences on social media apps, connect with friends and family, make reservations, book experiences, and research nearby activities with ease. Using a robust reservation system, third-party management software, and providing a technology hub onsite will go a long way toward making the customer experience more friendly.

Diversity and Inclusion

Focusing on diversity and inclusion in offering outdoor recreation and experiences to your customers doesn’t just mean making options more accessible to people of different cultures and ethnicities. It also means making a concerted effort to not alienate or isolate those who are low-income, or who are hearing or vision impaired or disabled. You want to do everything you can to ensure the widest population has access to the positive mental health and physical benefits associated with engaging with the outdoors. 

Glamping, RV Life, and Customizable Experiences

As pandemic restrictions continue to lessen worldwide, the outdoor activities sector will once again be competing with hotels, resorts, and Airbnb rentals for visitors. You can decrease that competition by offering more robust amenities, luxury accommodations, and customizable experiences to guests. By capitalizing on the glamping and Van Life movements, you can cater the customer experience directly to that new demographic—one that wants to get out on the road and have an adventure, while still retaining access to many of the amenities of home. Offer themed trailer or RV rentals, luxury amenities, and opportunities for social engagement to encourage luxury campers to choose you over a hotel.

Stay Invested in Current Trends and Advancements in Outdoor Recreation

The best way to ensure you succeed in the outdoor recreation industry throughout 2023 is to stay invested in current trends and advancements so that you’re offering your customers exactly what they want. At Advanced Outdoor Solutions, we do that work for you by researching, analyzing, and presenting the latest trends and data in outdoor activities. 

We also offer those in the industry land planning, design, development, and turnkey third-party management solutions throughout Delaware, DC, and SW Florida. To learn more about these services, contact us today at 1-800-579-9796 or contact us online.