From Deseret News archives:
Early '06 figures show strong tourism industry
Coalition reports rise in tax revenue, total spending, travel jobs
Nan Groves Anderson, executive director of the Utah Tourism Industry Coalition, told the Utah Board of Tourism Development on Friday that preliminary figures for 2006 show a strong industry. For example, to meet one funding mechanism threshold, the state needed to see a 3 percent increase from taxes generated from tourism-related jobs. For 2006, the increase was 13.1 percent.
"So the news is absolutely phenomenal. ... Generally, the news is all very, very good," Anderson said. "We've got great statistics and information on particular aspects that we measured."
Tourism backers will use the statistics to demonstrate to lawmakers the need for increased marketing money. The state's tourism marketing fund has been bolstered by $18 million over the past two years, and this year's request will be for a total of $13 million, including $7 million from the state's general fund.
Among other statistics from the coalition:
Tourism tax revenues equated to $464 per Utah household in 2005, but that figure grew to $494 in 2006.
Total tourism spending was up 7.7 percent to $5.87 billion.
Hotel, restaurant and car-rental taxes climbed.
Lodging occupancy climbed from 3.2 percent to 68.2 percent.
The board's chairman, Colin Fryer, said the statistics were cause for celebration. "I don't know if you could have ever drawn it up better than this," he said.
E-mail: bwallace@desnews.com
Comments
- AOL ends ties with Time Warner 9:25 a.m.
- Senate to confront abortion in debate 9:10 a.m.
- EPA: Greenhouse gases harmful 9:08 a.m.
- 'Openness' workshop closed to public 9:00 a.m.
- Thousands protest in Iran 8:47 a.m.
- Stocks push higher as dollar rises 8:41 a.m.
- Messy Monday morning commute 8:22 a.m.
- U.N. climate conference opens 7:55 a.m.
- Blast outside Iraqi school kills 8 7:53 a.m.
- Today on TV 12:49 a.m.
- BYU and Utah's bowl games
- BYU professor remembered
- Cougars going back to Vegas
- Y., U. to learn bowl destinations
- TCU to play Boise in Fiesta Bowl
- Utah/BYU rivalry can be more civil
- The forgotten ship: USS Utah
- Utes excited to go to San Diego
- Bring the true spirit of Christmas
- Y. profs: Beck not all-knowing
- Letters: Liberal because LDS
259 - Y. profs: Beck not all-knowing
222 - Hate not limited to 1 in-state rivalry
189 - Aggies shoot past Cougars
179 - TCU to play Boise in Fiesta Bowl
144 - N.Y. Senate rejects gay marriage
131 - George lost in rivalry hatefest
114 - Ed Smart 'appalled' at testimony
98 - Harpring's NBA career is over
95 - Cougars going back to Vegas
92
Trolley Square's annual Holiday Open House will feature visits with...
First, a big thank you to all who posted questions here for me to ask...
RE: Anthony Brown Please don't kill yourself. You are loved. Your family...
at all. I would rather see Boise St. and TCU play each other than one of...
Thank you Sherry Young! You are a delight! What a beautifully written...
"Pay Lay Ale"???? Are you aware that language is part of the temple ceremony...
Blame the refs? Lame. Real lame. Give me a break. What comments would you...
Wayne Howard started it. St. Urban I perpetuated it. Tate, Scalley, et.al....
God bless you Carma Wadley! What a delightfully outstanding article on the...
To "Marxist global warmers? | 8:55 a.m." here are some peer-reviewed articles...
MWC, Prepare to get owned by the WAC. Also, BYU Fans, have fun watching...
I figured it out. It's all Bronco's fault. Young's a Cougar and president...


You can be the first to comment on this story.