Tourism market declining in 2020 | Apache County
The major tourism market in Northern Arizona definitely took a hit in 2020.
However, the Apache and Navajo counties fared better than the rest of the state, according to just-released figures from the Arizona Department of Tourism.
Overnight stays in Apache County fell a whopping 22% in the year of the pandemic – with much of the loss occurring during the initial shutdowns.
Navajo County fared slightly better – down 14%.
That’s bad – given our dependence on tourism.
Nationwide, tourism spending decreased by 28% in 2020 compared to 2019.
The abrupt decline in international travel was partially offset by an increase in travel within the states. Apparently, many Valley folks have canceled trips outside of the state and opted for a short trip to the highlands given the persistent pandemic.
Apache and Navajo Counties had 10 million overnight visitors.
Overnight guests spent $ 326 million in Navajo County and $ 96 million in Apache County. That spending supported 3,650 jobs in Navajo County (-7%) and 1,330 jobs in Apache County (-13%), according to the Arizona Department of Tourism.
These visitors paid $ 8 million in state and local taxes in the Apache County and $ 30 million in Navajo County – a decrease of about 12% compared to 2020.
The report found that the spend of visitors who stayed in a hotel, motel, or short-term rental actually increased – by about 3%.
“This could be due to increased interest in outdoor areas and rural destinations during the pandemic,” the report said.
It is also possible that people who originally planned longer vacations – especially to other countries – have used their larger budget instead on a trip to northern Arizona.
Overall, the tourism industry was less severely affected over the course of the year than the authorities had forecast. Most cities and counties in northern Arizona braced sales slump with the region’s reliance on traveler spending and skyrocketing unemployment. But federal stimulus money cushioned the blow for many people who actually increased their overall savings rates during the pandemic.
Most local governments – including Navajo County – actually ended the year with sizeable surpluses, using the money to bolster flimsy reserves.
Most of the time, an increase in tourism in the states made up most of the loss in international travel – especially in rural areas. Travel within the states actually increased by around 7%. These US tourists made up 94% of the 32 million people who stayed at least one night 50 miles from their home. In contrast, international travel fell by 98%.
“Arizonans and drive market visitors have been critical to getting our tourism industry through last year,” said Debbie Johnson, director of the Arizona Office of Tourism. “Now that the Visit Arizona Initiative is providing much-needed resources, we look forward to improving recovery and building it for the future.”
According to the Department of Tourism, the state’s tourists numbered 9.1 million, followed by 6.8 million Californians, 2.1 million Texans, 1.8 million New Yorkers, and 1.5 million people from Florida.
“It’s great that so many Arizonans and local visitors took road trips last year to soak up the vast expanses and diverse geography of Arizona,” added Johnson. “These trips will continue to be critical to the recovery of our industry.”
Overnight guests nationwide spent $ 41.2 million daily, generating approximately $ 2.7 billion in state, local, and federal taxes.
The Northern Region of Arizona welcomed 10 million overnight guests in the 2020 calendar year.
The region includes the counties of Coconino, Navajo, and Apache
• Visitors spent $ 96.1 million in Apache County, down 22% from 2019.
• Visitor spend supported 1,330 jobs in Apache County (down 13%)
• Apache County’s visitor spending resulted in $ 8 million in state and local tax revenue (down 22%).
• Data Monitoring: Spending by visitors who stayed in a hotel, motel, or short-term rental in Apache County increased 3% in 2020 compared to 2019. This could be due to increased interest in outdoor areas and rural travel destinations during the pandemic.
• Visitors spent $ 325.5 million in Navajo County, down 13.5% from 2019.
• Visitor spend supported 3,650 jobs in Navajo County (down 7%)
• Navajo County visitor spending resulted in $ 29.6 million in state and local tax revenue, down 11%.
Peter Aleshire covers county government and other issues for the Independent. He is the former editor of the Payson Roundup. Reach out to him at [email protected]
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