Colorado’s eight Welcome Centers attracted 5 percent more visitors in 2005 than the previous year, according to Colorado Tourism Office data.
The centers, located across the state, were visited by 956,054 travelers last year. Started more than 20 years ago, the Welcome Centers were created to educate visitors and others driving Colorado roads on the state’s attractions, history, accommodations and other amenities. The eight centers are located in Burlington, Cortez, Dinosaur, Fort Collins, Fruita, Julesburg, Lamar and Trinidad.
“Colorado’s Welcome Centers are an important first point of contact in showcasing everything the state has to offer,” Pete Meersman, chairman of the Colorado Tourism Office (CTO) board, said in a statement.
Meersman also is president and CEO of the Colorado Restaurant Association trade group of Denver.
Created in 2000, the CTO promotes the state as a tourism and travel destination. It replaced the Colorado Tourism Board and Colorado Travel and Tourism Authority. The CTO is part of the state’s Office of Economic Development and International Trade.
Altogether, Colorado had 25.8 million overnight visitors from U.S. markets, according to the most recent statewide study by Longwoods International. Sixty-five percent of those trips started in Western states.
Business visitors and vactioners spent $7.3 billion in Colorado two years ago, according to the study.