Colorado Tourism
This is the place to find all you need to know about area information for the region, city or town you're planning to visit. The local resources you'll find here are the perfect contacts for setting up your trip and getting insider tips on where to stay and what to do. Our list of statewide visitor centers is a great resource for those driving across our beautiful state. Stop and stretch your legs, get directions and learn more about the area you're traveling in. You've also come to the right spot if you're interested in getting married or honeymooning in Colorado - after all, what could be a more romantic backdrop for your special day than the natural beauty of our diverse landscape?
Visit us at www.Colorado.com! Also, view a Colorado state map showing links to our Welcome Centers. Click here to ro read our past issues of the Colorado Travel Trends Newsletter.
Colorado Tourism reaches all-time high in 2007
Colorado’s tourism industry continued to break records in 2007, welcoming 28 million domestic overnight visitors — an all time high for the state. This is Colorado’s fourth year of consecutive growth according to the Longwoods International Colorado Travel Year 2007 report released by the Colorado Tourism Office. Overall, overnight visitors to Colorado in 2007 increased four percent over 2006 (26.9 million visitors).
On a national scale, Colorado made headway. Colorado’s national share of marketable travel rose from 2.35 percent in 2006 to 2.5 percent in 2007. Marketable trips are comprised of visitors who are not visiting friends or relatives, stay in overnight commercial accommodations and are influenced by marketing efforts.
"The Colorado Tourism Office is extremely pleased with the Colorado Travel Year 2007 study results," said Rob Perlman, chairman of the Colorado Tourism Office Board of Directors. “This study highlights the value of tourism to Colorado and the major impact it has on the state’s economy.”
Overnight marketable leisure trips saw an increase of eight percent, surpassing the record set in 1992. Nationwide, marketable travel also grew, requiring Colorado to exceed this growth to make any real gains.
Travel spending in the state reached new heights as well. Overall domestic visitor expenditures reached a record $9.8 billion in 2007, up ten percent over $8.9 billion in 2006. Overall visitor spending led to double-digit increases in accommodations, local transportation and recreation and attractions expenditures. Food and beverage saw an increase of three percent and retail an increase of six percent in visitor spending.
For the first time in 2007, Longwoods measured the volume and value associated with day travel in the state. In 2007, Colorado counted 21.5 million day trips, most originating in state. These day trippers spent an additional $1.3 billion, or 12 percent of all travel-related expenditures for a total of $11.1 billion.
"Colorado’s market share increase is extremely significant given the intensely competitive national marketplace,” said Kim McNulty, director of the Colorado Tourism Office. “It continues to validate that marketing and promotion investments are furthering Colorado’s recognition as a top tourist destination." Colorado remains solidly in first place nationally as an overnight ski destination, maintaining a huge lead over rival Western and Northeastern states with 20 percent market share. Colorado also retained its position as a top ten outdoor vacation destination with 3.6 percent of the national market share.
The increase in marketable trips reflected gains in touring, special event and resort trips. There were also gains in visitors coming on city, business-pleasure and casino trips. Outdoor trips now comprise the largest segment among those visiting Colorado on marketable leisure trips. The state now ranks ninth in the country for outdoor trips, with a 3.8 percent market share in 2007.
Aside from Colorado itself, the top state markets for Colorado visitors are Texas, California, Arizona, Illinois, Florida and Kansas.
To view the full Longwoods International Colorado Travel Year 2007 report, visit www.COLORADO.com/industrypartners. Media are invited to visit the Colorado Media Room at www.COLORADO.com/mediaroom.php for story ideas, press releases/press kits as well as high- resolution, downloadable photos and video for editorial use.
