Travel & Tourism
The Gardner Institute produces leading travel and tourism research in Utah. We produce reports, profiles, research briefs, fact sheets, data sheets, and blogs on Utah’s visitor economy. Our research informs the Utah Office of Tourism, destination marketing organizations, policymakers, and the general public.
Public Policy Lessons From the Michael O. Leavitt Administration: Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games
Utah welcomes the world in less than a decade. The decisions made during the 2002 Olympic Winter Games prepared Utah to host again, but the 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games will be larger and present different challenges and opportunities.
Utah/Federal Government Nexus Data Summary: Travel and Tourism Industry
In FY2024, over 1,200 federal employees worked in tourism-related jobs in Utah, including 658 in leisure and hospitality (includes national parks and recreation jobs) and 605 at the Federal Aviation Association (FAA).
The State of Utah’s Travel and Tourism Industry, 2025 (Tri-fold Brochure)
Visitors spent a record $12.71 billion in Utah’s economy in 2023, generating 159,800 total jobs and a record $2.35 billion in state and local tax revenue. Utah ski resort visitation was the second highest on record during the 2023-2024 season (6.7 million skier days).
Tourism, Recreation, and Restaurant Taxes in Utah
Tourism in Utah generates significant tourism-specific and other taxes, but regional differences in local revenues and tourism impacts can pose challenges.
The Evolving Landscape of Utah’s Short-Term Rental Market
Short-term rental (STR) growth accelerated dramatically across the United States as the COVID-19 pandemic shifted consumer behaviors, thus increasing their market demand. This report summarizes the recent trends in the growth of STRs across Utah and how this growth relates to the total housing supply.
The State of Utah’s Travel and Tourism Industry, 2024 (Tri-Fold Brochure)
Visitors spent a record $12.71 billion in Utah’s economy in 2023, generating 159,800 total jobs and a record $2.35 billion in state and local tax revenue.
Utah Travel & Tourism County Profiles, 2023
The Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute prepares annual travel and tourism industry profiles for all 29 Utah counties. These profiles include detailed breakdowns of several economic indicators such as employment, tax revenue, accommodations, and more.
An Economic Summary of Summit County’s Cultural Industry, 2023
Summit County’s cultural industry, which includes the design, education, entertainment, fashion, film, humanities, and traditional arts sectors, generated $534.1 million in output (direct spending) and supported an estimated 1,845 Summit County jobs in 2023.
An Economic Summary of Rich County’s Cultural Industry, 2023
Rich County’s cultural industry, which includes the design, education, entertainment, fashion, film, humanities, and traditional arts sectors, generated $3.2 million in output (direct spending) and supported an estimated 36 Rich County jobs in 2023.
An Economic Summary of Cache County’s Cultural Industry, 2023
Cache County’s cultural industry, which includes the design, education, entertainment, fashion, film, humanities, and traditional arts sectors, generated $392.4 million in output (direct spending) and supported an estimated 2,516 Cache County jobs in 2023.