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ATA eNewsletter

September 2009

The Economic Impact of the Arizona Travel Industry

The following statistics have been provided by the Arizona Office of Tourism.

- 37.4 million domestic and international overnight travelers visited Arizona in 2008.

- Travelers spent $18.5 billion in our state in 2008, which equates to almost $51 million pumped directly into our economy every day.

- Tourism is the only export industry bringing prosperity to all 15 Arizona counties and is one of the top two export industries (with microelectronics) generating earnings for Arizona’s residents. Unlike any other export industry, travel industry earnings are spread throughout the entire state, and have shown consistent growth, exerting a stabilizing and diversifying effect on the Arizona economy.

- Arizona’s Tourism Industry leads the way in bringing visitors to the state, but it is Arizona residents that reap the benefits of what these visitors leave behind. The taxes generated by visitors to Arizona have a direct and measurable tax benefit on every single Arizona resident.

- Direct travel spending in Arizona generated $2.6 billion in local, state and federal tax revenues in 2008, which equates to $1,080 per Arizona household.

- Tourism Industry-generated taxes fund critical programs and services for Arizona residents. They are primarily sales and excise taxes on visitors, while other industries tax resident spending.

- Business development and attraction is a key component of Arizona’s economy and the Tourism Industry is a driving force supporting that effort by creating the “quality of life” amenities and messaging that make Arizona an attractive place to live and work. Visitor volume is five times the Arizona resident base, which means visitors support many of the amenities that residents get to enjoy year-round, and which would not exist without the Tourism Industry.

- Almost 80% of all travel spending in Arizona comes from out-of-state and international visitors, which represents new money introduced into the economy.

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