More than 38 million domestic and international overnight visitors enjoyed Arizona as a travel destination in 2012. Direct travel spending generated $19.3 billion, which is approximately $53 million contributed to Arizona’s economy each and every single day.
161,300 industry-related jobs were generated by direct travel spending. Combined with secondary employment that is generated through this direct travel spending, total job generation for Arizona is nearly 300,000.
According to the Arizona Office of Tourism, $2.6 billion in local, state and federal tax revenues generated by direct travel spending; tax revenue generated by the travel and tourism industry lessens the annual tax burden by 1,080 for every Arizona household.
“Tourism is one of Arizona’s top-export industries and generates thousands of jobs, millions of dollars in earnings and billions of dollars in tax revenues all of which directly impacts every Arizona resident,” said Sherry Henry, AOT director.
According to Henry, unlike other industries, taxes generated by travel industry spending are paid by visitors rather than residents. These visitors bring new money into Arizona’s economy and generate revenue in all 15 counties.
The Office of Tourism’s marketing plans for the forthcoming fiscal year based on three imaging and positioning research surveys which were conducted at the request of AOT. The agency will be using the surveys data to develop new marketing plans for the promotion of Arizona.
AOT will be launching a new national leisure tourism advertising campaign; launching trade and media efforts in the visitor markets of China and Brazil; and continuing with a co-operative marketing plan designed to promote rural Arizona destinations.
Maricopa and Pinal Counties
$12.2 billion (63.2% of Arizona Direct Travel Spending) in direct spending generated:
• 60% Share of VisaVUE International Spending
• 50% of Arizona’s Domestic Overnight Visitors
• 91,600 direct jobs
• $3.7 billion direct earnings
• $772 million in local and state tax revenues
16.7 million Domestic Overnight Visitors
Top Country Spending from Canada, Mexico and UK
La Paz, Mohave, Yuma Counties
$1.3 billion (6.7% of Arizona Direct Travel Spending) in direct spending generated:
• 8% Share of VisaVUE International Spending
• 12.7% of Arizona’s Domestic Overnight Visitors
• 13,800 direct jobs
• $313 million direct earnings
• $81 million in local and state tax revenues
• 4.2 million Domestic Overnight Visitors
Top Country Spending from Canada, Mexico and Germany
Cochise, Pima, Santa Cruz Counties
$3.3 billion (17.1% of Arizona Direct Travel Spending) in direct spending generated:
• 21% Share of VisaVUE International Spending
• 21.0% of Arizona’s Domestic Overnight Visitors
• 28,000 direct jobs
• $700 million direct earnings
• $190 million in local and state tax revenues
• 7.0 million Domestic Overnight Visitors
Top Country Spending from Mexico, Canada and UK
Gila, Graham, Greenlee, Yavapai Counties
$1.06 billion (5.6% of Arizona Direct Travel Spending) in direct spending generated:
• 13.7% of Arizona’s Domestic Overnight Visitors
• 4% Share of VisaVUE International Spending
• 12,100 direct jobs
• $257 million direct earnings
• $66 million in local and state tax revenues
• 4.5 million Domestic Overnight Visitors
Top Country Spending from Canada, Japan and UKUE
Apache, Coconino, Navajo Counties
$1.5 billion (7.8% of Arizona Direct Travel Spending) in spending generated:
• 17.7% of Arizona’s Domestic Overnight Visitors
• 9% Share of VisaVUE International Spending
• 15,900 direct jobs
• $394 million direct earnings
• $103 million in local and state tax revenues
• 5.8 million Domestic Overnight Visitors
Top Country Spending from Canada, France and Germany