It’s another record-breaking year for tourism in Colorado

GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colorado — During 2007, record-high fuel prices for the time didn’t affect people from taking a trip to colorful Colorado.

For the fourth consecutive year, Colorado set an all-time record for tourism with 28 million domestic-overnight visitors for 2007, according to Longwoods International Colorado Travel Year 2007 report released by the Colorado Tourism Office on Tuesday. Overall, overnight visitors to Colorado in 2007 increased 4 percent from 2006, which had 26.9 million visitors.

“The Colorado Tourism Office is extremely pleased with the 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.”

Colorado once again marked its territory as the top ski destination in the country, maintaining a huge lead over rival Western and Northeastern states, holding strong to its 20 percent share of the market. As well, the state retained its position as a top 10 outdoor vacation destination, claiming 3.6 percent of the national market share.

“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.”

Outdoor trips now comprise the largest segment among those visiting Colorado on marketable leisure trips, ranking Colorado ninth in the county for outdoor trips, with a 3.8 percent market share in 2007. Other increases in marketable trips reflected gains in touring, special events and resort trips. There were also gains in visitors coming on city, business-pleasure and casino trips.

On a national scale, Colorado made headway in its national share of marketable travel, 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 report read.

Travel spending in the state reached new heights as well, with domestic visitor expenditures reaching a record $9.8 billion in 2007, up 10 percent from 2006. Overall, visitor spending led to double-digit increases in accommodations, local transportation and recreation and attraction expenditures. Food and beverage saw an increase of 3 percent and retail an increase of 6 percent in visitor spending.

Aside from Colorado itself, states from which visitors traveled include Texas, California, Arizona, Illinois, Florida and Kansas.