Utah Tourism Statistics

Known for its national parks, red rock landscapes, and ski resorts, Utah offers visitors a wide range of outdoor activities.

Early 2026 figures point to a modest recovery in air travel after a softer 2025.

• Salt Lake City International Airport handled 16.9 million passengers from January to July 2026,¹ up 2.0% from the same months of 2025.²
• International passengers at the airport rose 2.3% to 888,029 over the same period.¹
• Utah's ski resorts recorded 4.8 million skier days in the 2025/26 season, down 26.5% from 2024/25, largely due to a record-low snow season.³
• Nationally, the U.S. Travel Association expects international arrivals from overseas to rise 3.7% in 2026, helped by the FIFA World Cup, after international visitation to the United States fell 6.3% in 2025.³

International tourists spent $855 million during their trips to Utah in 2025, down 7.8% from 2024.⁴

• International tourists spent $668.63 million in Utah in 2019. The pandemic cut that to $141.35 million in 2020.⁴
• Spending slipped further in 2021, to $117.35 million.⁴
• It recovered to $517.83 million in 2022 and $776.12 million in 2023, 16.1% more than in 2019.⁴
• In 2024, spending rose another 19.4% to $926.87 million, 38.6% above the pre-pandemic level.⁴
• In 2025, spending fell 7.8% to $855 million, still 27.9% above the pre-pandemic level.⁴

How much did tourists spend in Utah in 2025?

• International tourists spent $855 million in Utah in 2025.⁴
• That was 7.8% less than the year before, but still 27.9% above the pre-pandemic level of 2019.⁴

How much does it cost to visit Utah?

• In 2024, visitors to Utah spent about $1,022 per travel party on accommodation, food, transportation, shopping, and recreation.⁵
• That was up sharply from $794 in 2023.⁵
• Transportation took the largest share of that spending, at 38%, followed by lodging at 27% and food and drink at 14%.⁵

In 2025, the leading sources of foreign tourists to Utah were Canada, followed by France, Mexico, Germany and the United Kingdom.⁴

• Canada was the top market, with 214,250 visits, or 33% of the total, down from 267,530 in 2024.⁴ France came second with 47,900 visits.
• Mexico moved into third place with 44,310 visits, ahead of Germany with 40,060 visits (6% of the market).⁴
• The United Kingdom rounded out the top five with 38,250 visits.⁴
• Together, these five countries made up 59% of Utah's 651,390 international visitors in 2025.⁴

These figures are from Utah's 2024 visitor profile, the latest available. Figures for 2025 have not been published yet.

• Visiting friends and family was the main reason for 38% of visitors to Utah in 2024.⁵
• Outdoor recreation came next at 18%, while entertainment and sightseeing accounted for 12%.⁵

These figures are from Utah's 2024 visitor profile, the latest available. Figures for 2025 have not been published yet.

• Visitors stayed an average of 3.7 nights in Utah in 2024, up from 3.1 nights in 2023.⁵

The best time to visit Utah is generally from April to June and from September to October, when the weather is mild, skies are clear, and outdoor conditions are ideal for exploring national parks and scenic landscapes.

• Spring (April–June) offers comfortable temperatures, blooming desert wildflowers, and excellent hiking and sightseeing opportunities in places like Zion and Arches National Parks.
• Fall (September–October) provides pleasant weather, colorful foliage, and fewer crowds, making it a great time for outdoor adventures.
• Summer (July–August) can be hot, especially in southern Utah, but is popular for mountain destinations and festivals.
• Winter (December–March) is perfect for skiing and snowboarding in northern areas such as Park City and Salt Lake City.

Utah's standing as a top travel destination is backed by a string of awards and rankings:

• The Utah Tourism Hall of Fame, established in 1985, continues to honor individuals who have greatly contributed to the state’s tourism industry through leadership, marketing, and destination stewardship.⁷
• In Travel + Leisure’s 2025 World’s Best Awards, readers voted Goldener Hirsch in Park City the No. 1 resort in Utah, and four of the state’s top five resorts were in and around Park City.⁸
• Utah was recognized as the #1 State in the U.S. in the 2025 U.S. News & World Report Best States Rankings,⁹ highlighting its strong infrastructure, economy, outdoor amenities, and overall destination appeal.
• In 2018, Utah became the first state in the United States to earn a three-star rating from the Michelin Green Guide, awarded for its hospitality, access to hidden gems and “Mighty Five” national parks.¹⁰
• Moab ranked sixth among the world's 10 Most Welcoming Cities in Booking.com's 2024 Traveller Review Awards, the only U.S. place on its lists of 20 welcoming cities and regions.¹¹

Together, these honors reflect Utah’s mix of natural beauty, adventure opportunities, and world-class hospitality, and its place among America’s most celebrated travel destinations.

Salt Lake City International Airport is the main gateway for visitors flying into Utah. It handled 28.2 million passengers in 2025, a slight dip of 0.7% from the 28.4 million recorded in 2024.³

• Before the pandemic, the airport handled 26.8 million passengers in 2019.³ Traffic then fell by more than half (53.2%) to 12.6 million in 2020.
• Passenger numbers recovered steadily, reaching 22.4 million in 2021, 25.8 million in 2022 and 27 million in 2023, before a 5.2% rise took them to 28.4 million in 2024.³
• International travelers made up around 5% of passengers in 2025, about 1.5 million in total.²
• Traffic is picking up again in 2026: the airport handled 16.9 million passengers from January to July,¹ 2.0% more than in the same months of 2025.²