GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE

Utah Division of Travel Development: The Economics of QualityTourism

Take a drive up State Street to Utah's Capitol Hill and you will drive right past Council Hall, home of the Division of Travel Development also known as the Utah Travel Council. This historical building was moved to its current location in the early 1960s from 100 South where the Federal Building stands today. It was rebuilt brick by brick on the hill next to the White Chapel. As the building took form in its new setting, Utah's tourism industry was also being reshaped, and it continues its transformation as interest in the state grows.

The agency is in its fifth year of implementation of a Long Range Strategic Plan, which calls for quality earnings over quantity of visitation. Tourism continues to be among Utah's top five economic activities. In 1999, an estimated 18.1 million out-of-state visitors came to the state to visit our parks, ski resorts, deserts, waterways and other attractions. That's a 2 percent increase from 1998. These visitors spent an estimated $4.2 billion, generating $336 million in state and local tax revenues. In addition, more than 100,000 people are employed in travel and tourism-related industries in the state. That translates into nearly one in nine jobs in Utah. The average tourism wage rate continues to grow at faster levels than the average state wage rate.

(to be continued)