CTO in the News: Visits to Colorado hit record in 2005 – Study

Colorado attracted 25.9 million overnight visitors in 2005, a record number of tourists for the state, according to a report released Wednesday by the Colorado Tourism Office.

Colorado posted a 6 percent increase in the number of so-called marketable leisure trips, those where travelers are not coming on business or to visit family and friends. The increase translated into an extra $900 million in spending, with a total of $8.2 billion in direct spending by visitors.

The Longwoods International study showed that Colorado ranked 18th nationally in the number of those trips, moving up from 23rd place last year.