A healthy tourism economy is built and supported by Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs) such as Carbondale Tourism, the local volunteer tourism council that utilizes lodging tax collected by the Town of Carbondale to develop and manage tourism while providing visitor information on local businesses including Chamber of Commerce members, attractions, and events, as well as providing information on ways to be a responsible visitor.
Tourism is one of the largest industries in the State of Colorado and is the backbone of Carbondale’s local economy providing jobs and supporting the many small businesses in our community. Visitors stimulate the local economy and benefit hotels and lodges, meeting and event facilities, attractions, restaurants, arts organizations, cultural events, outdoor recreation industry businesses, transportation providers, local farmers and countless other businesses.
Tourism also offers many benefits for Carbondale residents and improves quality of life for the community.
The economic benefits in numbers:
Source: Dean Runyan Associates, Colorado Travel Impacts 2000-2019; Longwoods International, Travel Year 2019
In 1993, Colorado became the only state to eliminate its tourism marketing function, when it cut its $12 million promotion budget to zero. As a result, Colorado’s domestic market share plunged 30 percent within two years, representing a loss of over $1.4 billion in tourism revenue annually. Over time, the revenue loss increased to well over $2 billion yearly. To learn more about the importance of tourism marketing and the direct impact it has on Colorado’s economy, read this special report. PDF File and watch The Story of Colorado Tourism here.
Each year, Longwoods International conducts an overview of Colorado’s travel and tourism market and provides a detailed profile of the state’s visitors for each calendar year. To view annual Longwoods reports, click here
Dean Runyan Associates annual reports describe the economic impacts of travel to and through Colorado and each of its sixty-four counties, four tourism regions, and eleven districts. To view the most current report, click here
Carbondale Tourism is a member of CADMO, the state-wide association for all of Colorado’s destination marketing organizations (DMOs), representing more than 25 towns, cities and regions throughout Colorado, as well as thousands of businesses impacted by tourism.
TIAC is a non-profit association of Colorado tourism-related organizations and associations uniting diverse segments of the industry into one unified voice. Membership includes restaurants, lodging, destination marketing organizations (DMOs), gaming industry, ski industry, outdoor and cultural attractions, river outfitters, campgrounds, and others. TIAC’s objectives are: to be the unifying voice of the Colorado tourism industry; to foster cooperation, communication, and education among tourism-related organizations; to enhance the general understanding of the economic value and contribution of the tourism industry; and, to establish and maintain effective governmental relationships and communications with the Colorado Legislature.
Dance the night away at the Spring Creeks Ranch Event Barn! Live music by Lendon James, tasty bites, plus drink + hotel sp...
Click to Learn More
Celebrate Conscious Friday and Customer Appreciation Days at Nido, November 25-29. Enjoy 20% off all items in store! 5% of...
Click to Learn More
Join us for the Carbondale Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot 5K Walk/Run and 1 Mile Fun Run on Thursday, November 28th. This fa...
Click to Learn More
Head to Redstone the Saturday after Thanksgiving and kick off the holiday season at Redstone's Annual Grand Illumination!<...
Click to Learn More
An adult only holiday shopping event with live music, food & beautiful handmade gifts from over a dozen local vendors & t...
Click to Learn More
Join Santa at Weant Blvd & Main Street at 5:30pm to Light Up the Forest Service tree and Main Street tree lights. Holiday ...
Click to Learn More
