Tourism increased slightly last year in the Pikes Peak area despite an uncertain and turbulent start, according to a newly released Longwoods International Travel Report.

In 2025, 25.6 million people visited the region, with 11.2 million tourists staying overnight, a 1.6% increase from the previous year. Overall, the number of visitors increased by 0.3%, and spending increased 0.5%, the Longwoods report, shared by Visit COS, stated.

“2025 was an unpredictable year with factors including rising costs, unstable political climate, government shutdown, and decreased international visitation to the U.S. To see our visitation stay on par with our record 2024 numbers is a huge testament to the strength of our local tourism industry and community,” said Doug Price, outgoing president and CEO of Visit COS, the Colorado Springs Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Price told the Tribune previously that he expects travel for business conferences and sporting events to stay largely stable as the season shifts to summer, despite higher travel costs.

Summer is typically the busiest tourism season for the city and region. In 2025, 31% of visitors came during summer, up from 30% the previous year. With the average price for a gallon of gas eclipsing $4 ahead of the Memorial Day weekend, Price thinks more people will stay closer to home and select the Pikes Peak region as their summer travel destination.

But the travel economy remains divided into two categories, said Skyler McKinley with AAA Colorado.

“For the folks who can travel, they’re going to travel at a more expensive rate,” he said. Others, “who have historically never been able to take time off … continue to be locked out of the travel economy.”

In 2025, more than one-fourth of overnight visitors traveled with their pets, indicating that “pet-friendly accommodations and activities are likely of interest,” tourism officials said.

“We’re working on more content and campaigns for these groups,” said Alexea Veneracion, director of communications at Visit COS. “They are huge target audiences for us and likely to be visitors who will plan longer stays and drive more economic impact for the region.”