Colorado welcomed a record number of visitors in 2005, with 25.9 million overnight travelers coming to the state, up 1 percent over 2004, according to data released today by the Colorado Tourism Office.
Visitor spending rose more significantly to $8.2 billion in direct spending last year, compared to $7.3 billion in 2004.
Mirroring a national trend toward shorter trips, the average trip to Colorado last year lasted 5.7 nights, down from 6.8 nights in 2000.
The major states from which Colorado drew tourists were California, Texas, Arizona, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Kansas and Utah. The top urban markets were Los Angeles, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, Albuquerque-Santa Fe, Dallas- Fort Worth, Minneapolis-St. Paul and New York City.
Toronto-based market research firm Longwoods International conducted the Colorado Travel Year 2005 visitor study.
Denver also saw a record number of visitors last year, the Denver Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau announced last month.
A total of 10.4 million overnight visitors came to the city in 2005, up 5 percent over the previous year. While here, they spent a total of $2.43 billion at local hotels, restaurants, attractions and shops, up from $2.32 billion in 2004.
