Exporting adventures: tourism is a top Utah export and growing.

• Author: Miller, Derek B.
• Position: Worldview

This summer if you are fortunate to walk the red-rock trail to the Delicate Arch, you will likely be taken aback by two things: the beauty of your surroundings and the number of different languages spoken by fellow visitors. Arches National Park receives thousands of international visitors each year, and it is not alone.

International tourists pour into Utah to visit Utah's Mighty Five National Parks, ski at world-renowned resorts or experience Salt Lake City's unique sites and culture. Though it may surprise you at first, tourism is in fact one of the state's largest exports.

A boost to the Beehive State

Tourism is classified as an export because people from outside of the state are spending money on Utah goods and services during their visit. Utah welcomed more than 793,000 international visitors in 2015 that spent an estimated $769.7 million during their stays. The economic impact of international tourists is significant because they tend to stay longer and spend more money than domestic visitors.

According to a report by the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, tourism is also an important driver of job creation. Travel and tourism generated an estimated 142,500 direct, indirect and induced jobs in 2015. To put that into context, that means about 10 percent of Utah jobs are impacted or supported by the tourism industry.

The World Trade Center Utah team has witnessed firsthand the positive impact tourism has on rural communities. Countless stories were shared with the rural outreach team during company site visits of international tourists not only buying merchandise in stores, but also making additional purchases online after returning to their home countries.

The top countries Utah receives international visitors from are Canada, China, France, Germany, the United Kingdom and Australia. Interestingly, though not unexpectedly, the Chinese tourist market is growing significantly. In 2013 China was 11th among international visitors to Utah--and they now rank second. The travel preferences of Chinese tourists are also changing; they are opting to plan independent trips rather than book through a tour or travel agency.

International appeal

So why do international visitors come to Utah? Easy, it is because Utah has 14 ski resorts, five national parks, seven national monuments, two national recreation areas, one national historic site and 43 state parks. Utah was endowed with natural features that make it a must-see for outdoor enthusiasts.

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