It’s one of the most profitable industries in the state, contributing $7.07 billion to the economy and supporting thousands of jobs last year, according to a new report released Wednesday by the Kem C. Gardener Policy Institute at the University of Utah.
Despite the travel and tourism industry being the hardest-hit industry by the pandemic in 2020, the report said the industry experienced a “healthy recovery” during the first half of this year, particularly in rural areas. Here’s what the Gardner Institute report found out about the 2020 and early 2021 travel and tourism industry:
While 10 of Utah’s national places lost visitation, Cedar Breaks National Monument saw nearly a 50% increase in visitors with over a quarter of a million new visitors last year. Because of the pandemic, visitors spent nearly 30% less than 2019′s record spending of $10.13 billion. Southwest Utah is the third most profitable area for leisure and hospitality taxable sales in the state, the report showed, with more than $730 million taxable sales in total. Washington County is the fourth most profitable county in the state with nearly $600 million in taxable sales.
Short-term bookings also increased last year, the report said, plus “a surge in digital wanderers and amenity migrants, which supported the growth of “Zoom Towns,” or a growing community filled with newly-remote workers.