DENVER, Colorado – Though it may feel like tourism numbers can’t grow any further for the state of Colorado, more and more people continue to visit every year. A new Longwoods Travel USA Report showed that, in 2023, 93.3 million people visited the state, compared to 90 million in 2022, showing a 3.6% increase. According to a separate Dean Runyan report, travel spending increased from $27.2 billion in 2022 to $28.2 billion in 2023 in Colorado, or by 3.9%.
“Colorado’s outdoor recreation, thriving communities, cultural heritage, and booming industries continues to draw millions of visitors to our state each year, strengthening local economies in all four corners of the state. Every day is a great day to celebrate our world-renowned and  growing tourism industry.” – Colorado Governor Jared Polis
Additionally, 9,450 new direct-travel generated jobs were created in 2023, for a grand total of 187,710 throughout the year, or a 5.3% increase compared to 2022. Additional notable impacts from the two studies include the following:
- 85% of overnight travelers were repeat visitors in 2023.
- 62% of overnight travelers to Colorado had visited before in the past 12 months.
- For 2023 overnight visitors, the average length of stay was 3.5 nights.
- Direct travel-generated earnings grew from $8.7 billion in 2022 to $9.9 billion in 2023, an increase of 13.3%.
- Earnings from Accommodation & Food Services grew from $4.1 billion to $4.4 billion, an increase of 7.9%.
- Travelers spent approximately $13.9 billion in the Denver region alone in 2023, making up 49.3% of the statewide total.
“We’re encouraged by the consistent growth we saw in 2023, with Denver and the Front Range playing key roles. Our focus for 2024 is to continue highlighting Colorado’s diverse attractions, welcoming more international visitors and supporting all destinations across the state.” – Colorado Tourism Office Director Timothy Wolfe