[cs_content][cs_section parallax=”false” style=”margin: 0px;padding: 0px;”][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/3″ style=”padding: 0px;”][x_gap size=”50px”][x_image type=”none” src=”https://ppora.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/sq500-bb808690e1446ffd0bb909beb3501b4f.jpg” alt=”” link=”false” href=”#” title=”” target=”” info=”none” info_place=”top” info_trigger=”hover” info_content=””][/cs_column][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”2/3″ style=”padding: 0px;”][x_custom_headline level=”h5″ looks_like=”h3″ accent=”false”]Walt Hecox[/x_custom_headline][cs_text]is a retired Colorado College economics professor, now serving as senior program adviser to the El Pomar Foundation’s Pikes Peak Recreation and Tourism Heritage Series. For more information, visit https://www.elpomar.org/programs/pikes-peak-recreation-&-tourism-heritage-series or email whecox@elpomar.org.[/cs_text][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][cs_section parallax=”false” style=”margin: 0px;padding: 0px 0px 45px;”][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][x_line style=”border-top-color: hsl(0, 0%, 50%);border-top-width: 2px;”][cs_text]The Pikes Peak region’s recreation and tourism industries remain a largely “hidden gem” of employment and economic diversification as well as a key determinant of our quality of life. While we discuss these industries frequently, we often overlook their historic origins, magnitude and ways they support our region’s quality of life.
Recreation and tourism, elements that help diversify our economy, are key sectors of our three-county region. In 2014, recreation and tourism in El Paso, Teller and Fremont counties brought 5.2 million visitors, with direct travel spending of over $1.4 billion, and supported 14,800 jobs earning $344 million. Travel- and tourism-related employment is 17 percent of total private employment, with average wages in the sector ranging from $45,530 for passenger transportation to $17,025 for retail sales and restaurants. However, more than half of all overnight travel spending occurs in the Denver area. By region, 2014 shares are: Denver metro region, 51 percent; Mountain Resort region, 23 percent; Pikes Peak region, 8 percent (down from 9 percent in 2013); all other counties, 17 percent. The state had 33.6 million overnight visitors in 2014, 8 percent more than in 2013, according to the Colorado Tourism Office. Losing our “regional share” of total tourism in Colorado hurts. For instance, analysis shows that if in 2014 our region kept its 2013 share of 9 percent rather than slipping to 8 percent, the region would have received $46 million in additional tourist dollars.
Underpinning these direct economic dimensions lies the region’s quality of life. It is vitally important to residents and visitors alike, yet it is difficult to measure. The Colorado Springs Regional Business Alliance rather broadly offers “quality of life” as a key ingredient for attracting and retaining employers and employees. The alliance goes on: “against a backdrop of some of America’s most beautiful mountains sits a thriving community, rich in business experience, with a history replete with achievement. What sets Colorado Springs apart from most cities is… [/cs_text][/cs_column][/cs_row][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][x_custom_headline level=”h2″ looks_like=”h3″ accent=”false” class=”cs-ta-center”]Read more at the Gazette[/x_custom_headline][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][cs_section parallax=”false” class=”cs-ta-center” style=”margin: 0px;padding: 0px;”][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][x_button size=”global” block=”false” circle=”false” icon_only=”false” href=”http://gazette.com/guest-column-pikes-peak-regions-heritage-of-innovation-and-entrepreneurship/article/1575853″ title=”” target=”” info=”none” info_place=”top” info_trigger=”hover” info_content=””]Click Here![/x_button][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][/cs_content]
