The importance of outdoor tourism in the United States is once again confirmed by the attention that the public administration places on it. The RV Industry Association said yesterday, during a ceremony at the White House, the Biden administration announced the relaunch of the Federal Interagency Council on Outdoor Recreation (FICOR), an interagency effort that includes leaders from the Departments of the Interior, Agriculture, Commerce, and Defense. Its goal is to improve accessibility to nature, increase outdoor recreation opportunities, and provide the public with better and more affordable experiences in American public lands and waters.
“A record number of Americans have turned to RVs as a way to enjoy the health benefits of the outdoors or to pursue their dream of working virtually from their favorite national park campground,” said RV Industry Association Director of Federal Affairs Chris Bornemann, who was present at the announcement. “It’s vital that federal land agencies coordinate at the highest level to provide robust access and prepare our parks and forest campgrounds for current and future generations of RV campers and emerging EV technologies.”
An organization born in 2011
The Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR), along with the RV Industry Association, has supported the establishment of this consultative body since the beginning of the Biden administration, meeting with the transition team, agency officials, and cabinet secretaries. FICOR was originally developed under the Obama Administration in 2011 and allowed federal agencies to coordinate the management of recreational activities on federally managed territories. To help the public understand the meaning of the announcement, the ORR has prepared a document highlighting the opportunities and priorities of the sector.
“The revival of FICOR is critical to the $140 billion RV industry and the wider outdoor recreation economy, which has seen extraordinary growth as people prioritize their physical and mental wellbeing by getting outdoors,” said RV Industry Association President & CEO Craig Kirby. “The increased popularity of RVing and all types of outdoor recreation means greater coordination is needed between federal land and water agencies to provide safe and enjoyable experiences on our national lands for generations to come. FICOR will provide this coordination and ensure recently passed legislation, such as the Great American Outdoors Act, is implemented in a way that will increase access and provide incredible experiences at campgrounds throughout our public lands.”
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