| Description |
Visitors spent a record $10.56 billion in Utah's economy in 2021, generating 130,600 total jobs and a record $1.81 billion in total state and local tax revenue. Utah ski resort visitation (5.8 million) was at an all-time high during the 2021-2022 season, while year-over 2022 national park visitation (10.7 million) was down an estimated 5.0%, though still on par with 2019 baseline visitation. Park visitation softening in 2022 was due to a variety of economic and geopolitical forces, including high gas prices, a strong U.S. Dollar, and the war in Ukraine. Overall, Utah's travel and tourism spending, air travel, ski and park visitation, and tax revenue have returned to-if not surpassed-baseline 2019 levels. Despite the sector's general recovery, however, international visitation has yet to rebound and leisure and hospitality employment continues to lag below visitor spending, exerting pressure on Utah's service-related businesses. |
