April 7, 2008 The Enterprise

"Green is gold: Promoting tourism in Utah "
by David Brems

The first in a series of ten articles discussing sustainable design.

Advocating tourism in Utah as a renewable resource, investing in it and protecting it as a valuable economic asset makes for a healthier economy and a cleaner state, and helps Utah become a positive example and leader in sustainable sources of income.

Utah’s tourism and recreation industry is booming, bringing the local economy a significant source of sustainable and eco-friendly revenue. It is important that we continue to foster the growth of these industries, as funding from more traditional sources will soon be gone before we know it. In fact, a 2006 briefing by the Utah Mining Association predicts that Utah’s coal reserve will run dry by the year 2060. Tourism is an investment with an unlimited future—it is a strong source of revenue for the state and will continue to provide Utah’s economy with a steady and significant stream of income for many years to come.

Any short-term economic gains made by using our public lands for purposes other than recreation aren’t worth the price we’ll pay in the long run. After all, traveler spending generated an estimated $467 million in state and local tax revenues in 2006, according to the Utah Office of Tourism. The office also reports that Utah’s five national parks saw 5.2 million visitors in 2006, and another 4.7 million visited the state’s seven national monuments, two national recreation areas and national historic site. Utah state parks also hosted 4.5 million visitors in 2006, and the 13 ski resorts saw 4.1 million skiers during the 05-06 season.

These impressive numbers suggest that local and out-of-state visitors continue to flock to Utah’s famous recreation areas in spite of an increasingly sluggish nationwide economy and skyrocketing fuel prices. According to the tourism, travel and recreation section of the 2008 Economic Report to the Governor, even though fuel prices are at an all-time high, the tourism segment of Utah’s economic income is expected to increase in the coming years, and Utah is “well-positioned” to attract participants in booming trends of adventure travel, cultural tourism and nature-based travel (p 212). Between 2005 and 2006 alone, traveler spending rose an estimated 7.7% to account for $5.87 billion in the state’s economy, according to the Utah Office of Tourism.

Critics will note that tourism as an economic engine is not without its potential pitfalls. An increase in visitors to Utah’s public lands, national parks and recreation areas means an increase in personal responsibility. To keep the air clear and the land clean, think “green” whenever possible. Consider alternative modes of transportation to and from your destination, including the enhanced efficiency of group travel, and keep gas-powered-vehicle use to a minimum by responsibly hiking, biking, swimming and skiing.