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FIRST IN A SERIES OF TWELVE Utah becoming a world destination The number of international visitors to the state is steadily increasing Last updated 11/08/1998, 12:01 a.m. MT By Jenifer K. Nii Deseret News staff writer       Christiano Valzasina and Carla Sangalle were in no mood to stop and chat.       "We have just a few minutes," Valzasina said on the grounds of Salt Lake City's Temple Square. "We have much to do."       Like a growing number of tourists who visit America every year, Valzasina and Sangalle were looking for something different. They were not interested in the bustle of New York City or the glamour of Hollywood. The typical tourist pit stops no longer drew them.       They wanted something else. Something new.       And, like a steadily increasing number of international visitors, this married couple from Italy discovered Utah.       They said they wanted to experience the unique grandeur of Utah's national parks, to see for themselves the future site of the Olympic Games and the hub of the "curious" Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. An increasing number of foreign visitors set their sights on Utah's many tourist attractions each year. Photo by Don Grayston, Deseret News       Valzasina said he and his wife planned to spend two weeks in the Intermountain region, visiting the historical sites of Salt Lake City, as well as Yellowstone National Park and the national parks of southern Utah.       The number of visitors making the trip to Utah may dip a bit this year because of the financial crisis in Asia and unemployment rates in Europe, said Karen Sudmeier, research coordinator for the Utah Travel Council. But recent trends indicate more and more people will come to the state in the years to come.       "We've seen very strong growth in international tourism to Utah through this decade," Sudmeier said. "Our growth has averaged about 10 percent every year through 1996, and the outlook is extremely strong."       Figures from Zion National Park estimates nearly 2.5 million people visited the park last year, with 25 percent to 29 percent coming from outside the United States, said Denny Davies, public information officer for the park.       Like other Utah parks, Zion is expecting a slight drop in numbers this year because of the various economic crises around the world and the World Cup Soccer Tournament in France this summer. Still, he said, business is good.       "Most of our foreign visitors are from Europe," Davies said. "Most are from Germany, the Netherlands and France. . . . But every Thursday and Sunday morning we get tour buses that come in, filled with visitors from Japan or Korea, and we're even getting some Chinese visitors."       One Salt Lake man, while on his way to Bryce Canyon National Park for a family reunion, recently recalled stopping at a small roadside convenience store to make a phone call.       "I got out of the car and went to the phone, and I remember that there were all these people around me, and not a single one of them was speaking English," he said. "Some were speaking German, I know, because I speak a little German. Some were speaking what I think was Portuguese. Some were speaking French.       "But not one of them was speaking English," he said. "I thought it was great."       Tourists are not the only people who have discovered Utah. International leaders in business and government are also beginning to awaken to the possibilities Utah offers, said Dan Mabey, director of the state's International Business Office.       Utah typically welcomes eight or nine foreign ambassadors each year, in addition to members of various consulates, parliaments and other governing agencies, Mabey said.       Lee Kuan Yew, senior minister from Singapore, came to Utah in late October to officially open the Singapore Consulate in Salt Lake City. His visit, largely a credit to Jon Huntsman Jr. (a former ambassador to Singapore and the consulate's new honorary consul general), also included meetings with Gov. Mike Leavitt and representatives from business and the LDS Church.       Generally, ambassadors come at the invitation of universities, which give them a forum to speak to large groups of students, Mabey said. But, like Yew, they are also introduced to Utah's government, business and community leaders.       "As we've developed our international network around the world, we've had pretty good success in developing interest and awareness," Mabey said. "We find they're wanting to learn how a small inland state like Utah has been able to make an impact internationally like we have."       Utah has a growing reputation for innovation in the high-tech and biotechnology fields, Mabey said. Foreign delegations have also been impressed with the state's quality of life, its quality of education and its low unemployment rates.       "Delegations from foreign countries are saying, 'You do some things very well, and we'd like to see how you do that,' " Mabey said. "And, you can't ignore the fact that for years Utah has sent a lot of young men and a lot of young women around the world (on missions for the LDS Church).       "These are people who have been in their homes speaking their language, who have gained an understanding of their culture. People remember that, so we have a wide reach from that perspective as well," Mabey said.       The LDS Church's Salt Lake headquarters also serve as a magnet for its members around the globe. Many make the trek to Utah less for its physical beauty than for its spiritual importance, and their vacation itineraries reflect that.       Yoshihito and Risa Aoki came from just north of Tokyo for the church's 168th Semiannual General Conference in early October. It was also the way they chose to spend their five-day honeymoon.       When asked whether they planned to visit the national parks or do any shopping, the Aokis seemed puzzled. They hadn't really given it much thought, Risa Aoki said. They had, however, made plans to visit church history sites, temples and the missionaries who had baptized her husband.       Not many Japanese people know about Utah unless they are members of the LDS Church, said Risa Aoki. But she expects that to change.       "Utah is going to be very famous because the Winter Olympics are coming. And last time it was in Japan. Since it goes from Japan to here, the Japanese people are feeling it's more familiar than it used to be."