Utah's diverse outdoor activities continue to be a boon to the local economy, according to data from the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute cited by The Daily Herald. According to the data, 2016 marked a banner year for spending on hotel rooms and other tourism in the state.
Travelers to Utah spent a record $8.4 billion in the state in 2016 and generated an estimated $1.23 billion in total state and local tax revenue, according to a recent study completed by the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute. “2016 was another banner year for Utah’s travel and tourism economy,” said Jennifer Leaver, research analyst at the Gardner Policy Institute. “Utah’s national parks experienced [...]
Utah's 'Mighty 5' national parks are leading a historic boom in tourism, according to new data from the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute. Visitors spent a record-breaking $8.2 billion from 2011 to 2015, the data shows, with tourism generating about 142,500 jobs in 2015 alone. Read more on the data and what it means for Utah's economy in the Deseret News.
A new report by the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute found that tourism in Utah grew to nearly $8 billion, thanks in part to visitors to the states five national parks, coined the Mighty 5 by Visit Utah. Tourism dollars increased by about 5 percent, according to the study’s author, Jennifer Leaver, and the bulk of that money came from people visiting from outside [...]
The University of Utah will officially launch the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute on Sept. 2. An initiative of the David Eccles School of Business, the new institute aims to support informed decision-making by developing and sharing economic, demographic and public policy research. In addition, the institute serves as a prestigious gathering place for thought leadership. Named in honor of businessman, philanthropist and University [...]
Tourism is a big part of Utah’s economy, but a new analysis shows it’s even more essential to communities in rural Utah, where a large percentage of their income is tourist-based. Analyst Jennifer Leaver discusses her findings in the podcast below. Click here for a press release about her findings as well. Podcast Transcript: Eccles School: Welcome to the Eccles School Podcast. I'm your [...]
As warmer weather signals the start of the spring and summer tourism season, many people start planning family trips and romantic getaways. And increasingly, according to a new study published by the Bureau of Economic and Business Research, or BEBR, at the University of Utah’s David Eccles School of Business, they are taking those trips to mountains and deserts of Utah. BEBR recently released [...]