To start the new year, I would like to focus on what is one of the greatest regional and state assets we have from a quality of life and economic perspective. This would be the world-class topography that attracts millions of visitors each year.

I’d like to share the results of an economic impact analysis my office did for the Garden of the Gods Foundation. In 2022, the Garden of the Gods had 4.5 million visitors with almost a half-billion dollars in business revenues related to the park.

Entrance to the park is free, but this includes accommodation (e.g., hotels/motels), restaurants, car rentals and retail, among other factors.

This incredible regional asset generated almost 3,000 direct jobs, and an additional 1,000 jobs counting businesses that do business with the park as well as the employee-related consumer activity. Government also benefits with $21 million in regional taxes and $65 million in combined local, state, and federal tax revenues. Trip Advisor has Garden of the Gods as the ninth-best attraction worldwide and the second-best attraction in the U.S.

Of course, our region also has America’s Mountain, The Broadmoor Manitou & Pikes Peak Cog Railway up the mountain, the Manitou Incline, The Broadmoor resort with its added amenities, world-class hiking and biking and a growing, thriving downtown, to name a few.

Hence, it’s no surprise that in aggregate in 2022, we had almost $3 billion in tourism spending with 70% of that from overnight travelers. And 69% of visitors are repeat travelers, because they liked us so much. By way of context, regional gross metropolitan product was $48 billion.

The accommodation and food industry is the second-largest in our region. Retail is the fourth-largest industry, and if we combined those two, both of which tourists largely contribute to, the hospitality-related sector would be the largest, with health care being the second-largest.

The burgeoning growth of the Colorado Springs Airport reflects this tourism activity. The airport’s enplanements are up 49% when comparing November 2023 to November 2019, with a growing list of direct flights to other major cities including Washington, D.C.

Economists focus on the growth of all industries, because a diversity of industries ensures we are not overly reliant on one sector. But I will say that our stunning natural landscape is a window and magnet to those who want to perhaps relocate to one of the most beautiful places on the planet.

Nine years ago, I didn’t think I was going to move my family with five kids here from Ann Arbor, Mich., but the people, the possibilities and the beauty lured me in. And we’ve never regretted it.

Tatiana Bailey is executive director of the nonprofit Data-Driven Economic Strategies. An abridged video with this information can be found at ddestrategies.org.

Pikes Peak towers over Garden of the Gods in this Jan. 29, 2000 photo. Photo by Christian Murdock/The Gazette

Tatiana Bailey

Graphs for January 3, 2023 Gazette Article TB 1.pdfGraphs for January 3, 2023 Gazette Article TB 2.pdf