Colorado Ski Country U.S.A. and Vail Resorts, Inc. announced the findings of a comprehensive economic impact study of Colorado’s ski industry, the first of its kind in nearly two decades. Colorado’s ski industry generated a $4.8 billion annual economic impact during the 2013-2014 ski season, comprising a significant portion of the state’s tourism and recreation sectors and supporting a sizeable share of the employment and tax base in Colorado’s mountainous regions.
According to the study, skiing and snowboarding in Colorado support more than 46,000 year-round equivalent jobs in the amusement and recreation, lodging, food services, retail, and other sectors. These jobs generate $1.9 billion per year in labor income for Coloradans.
The study also showed that spending by out-of-state guests fuels strong economic growth — primarily in mountain communities. For example, in addition to the 500,000 Coloradans who skied during the 2013-2014 season, more than seven million skier visits were generated by skiers and snowboarders from around the United States and the world. These guests spend more than $300 per skier visit including more than 8.4 million nights in lodging accommodations. During the 2013-2014 season, skiers and snowboarders accounted for 588,000 deplanements at Denver International Airport, or about eight percent of all non-connecting arrivals to Denver International Airport in that period.
The study was conducted by RRC Associates, a market research firm based in Boulder, Colorado which specializes in tourism, snowsports and mountain resorts and it was also reviewed by the Business Research Division at the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado in Boulder.
From a study by RRC Associates For Colorado Ski Country U.S.A. and Vail
