Speakers at a Utah Libraries and History meeting discussed the economic scale of outdoor recreation in Utah and the growing overlap between outdoor recreation and cultural heritage tourism.

A staff member said Utah's outdoor recreation economy "it's worth $9,500,000,000 in value add now to the state of Utah." The same speaker and others noted that cultural heritage tourism is expanding, saying that "about 40% of all worldwide tourism is now heritage based." The discussion focused on how outdoor sites and cultural resources reinforce each other's appeal to visitors.

Speakers described recent grant activity that links recreation and cultural resources. A second staff member cited a grant-funded project at the Alpenback Loop in Little Cottonwood Canyon and said it was "the first climbing site to ever be included on the National Register of Historic Places," highlighting an example of how recreation sites are being recognized for both cultural and recreational value.

The meeting exchange consisted of discussion and examples; no formal motions, votes, or directives were recorded on this topic. Speakers framed the information as context for planning and grant-making rather than as a decision or policy action.

Participants emphasized the mutual benefit for tourism and preservation: outdoor recreation draws visitors who also engage with cultural sites, and heritage recognition can support preservation and funding opportunities for recreational locations. The staff members said more projects that bridge cultural resources and outdoor recreation are anticipated but did not specify timelines or funding amounts beyond the examples mentioned.

The meeting did not record any formal outcomes, ordinances, or budget actions tied to the statements in this discussion.