Utah, Salt Lake City and the state’s national parks are at the centre of a tourism economy that generated a record $13.7 billion in visitor spending during 2025. The figure represents a 3.3% increase from 2024, according to the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute’s annual tourism report, while visitor spending supported 150,000 jobs and generated $2.1 billion in state and local tax revenue. The results came as Utah welcomed approximately 27 million visitors during the year.
The tourism performance gives travellers another reason to look beyond the state’s best-known landmarks. Utah’s visitor economy extends from national parks and mountain resorts to Salt Lake City’s restaurants, cultural venues, events and accommodation properties, creating travel opportunities across different regions and seasons.
Salt Lake City strengthens urban tourism
Salt Lake City remains an important gateway for travellers exploring Utah. The city combines access to mountain landscapes with restaurants, museums, entertainment venues, shopping districts and sporting events.
For visitors, staying in the capital can provide a base for exploring nearby mountain areas while also allowing time for urban experiences. Downtown accommodation gives travellers access to dining and cultural attractions without requiring every part of a trip to revolve around a national park.
The city’s position between major outdoor destinations also makes it useful for multi-stop itineraries that combine urban travel with hiking, skiing, scenic drives and national park visits.
National parks remain central to Utah travel
Utah’s five national parks continue to form one of the state’s strongest tourism draws. Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Arches and Canyonlands offer different landscapes and outdoor experiences, from canyon trails and sandstone formations to desert scenery and high-elevation environments.
Travellers can build individual park visits into longer road trips across southern Utah. Zion can be combined with Bryce Canyon, while Moab provides access to Arches and Canyonlands. Capitol Reef adds another major stop along routes through the state’s central landscapes.
The parks also support different travel styles, including hiking, photography, scenic drives, camping and guided outdoor activities.
Visitor spending reaches record levels
The $13.7 billion tourism figure includes spending across accommodation, food services, transportation, recreation and retail. The 2025 report shows that visitor spending continued to grow even as travel patterns changed across the state.
Accommodation remains an important part of the tourism economy, with travellers using hotels, resorts, vacation rentals and other lodging options depending on destination and trip style.
Food and beverage spending also forms a major part of visitor activity. Salt Lake City, Park City, St. George and other communities provide restaurants and cafés that allow travellers to combine outdoor trips with local dining.
Park City adds mountain tourism
Park City provides a different tourism experience from Utah’s desert national parks. The mountain destination attracts visitors during both winter and summer, with skiing and snowboarding dominating the colder months and hiking, mountain biking and other outdoor activities becoming more prominent during warmer seasons.
Travellers can combine Park City with Salt Lake City, creating an itinerary that includes urban attractions and alpine experiences within the same trip.
The destination also contributes to Utah’s broader four-season tourism economy, with events, dining, accommodation and recreational activities extending beyond the traditional ski season.
Moab connects adventure with desert landscapes
Moab serves as a major base for travellers visiting Arches and Canyonlands national parks. The town also provides access to outdoor activities including hiking, mountain biking, rafting and scenic excursions.
Its location allows visitors to spend several days exploring southeastern Utah rather than treating the national parks as brief stops. Accommodation, restaurants, equipment providers and guided activities form an important part of the local tourism experience.
For road-trip travellers, Moab can also connect with other southern Utah destinations, creating longer routes through the state’s desert landscapes.
Travel experiences support local communities
Utah’s tourism economy extends well beyond major attractions. Visitors spend money on accommodation, restaurants, transportation, entertainment, retail and recreational activities across communities throughout the state.
The $13.7 billion in visitor spending therefore reflects activity across multiple tourism sectors. According to the 2025 report, tourism-related spending generated $2.1 billion in state and local tax revenue and supported approximately 150,000 jobs.
For travellers, these services form the practical infrastructure behind a Utah holiday, from places to stay and eat to transportation, guided experiences and entertainment.
Utah offers varied itineraries
One of Utah’s defining travel characteristics is the ability to combine contrasting landscapes within a single journey. A trip can begin in Salt Lake City before continuing to Park City and then heading south toward Bryce Canyon and Zion.
Another route can take travellers from Las Vegas into St. George and Zion before continuing through Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef and Moab. These itineraries allow visitors to experience mountains, deserts, canyons and urban destinations without limiting a holiday to one type of attraction.
A tourism economy driven by diverse travel
Utah’s record $13.7 billion tourism economy in 2025 highlights the scale of visitor spending across the state. Salt Lake City, Park City, Moab, St. George and the five national parks each contribute different experiences to the tourism landscape.
For travellers, the state offers a combination of national park adventures, mountain escapes, city experiences, local dining and outdoor recreation. As visitor spending continues to support accommodation, restaurants, attractions and local services, Utah remains a major destination for travellers seeking varied experiences across the American West.
