Travel and tourism : an overlooked industry in the U.S. and Tenth District

With the onset of recession in early 2001, the U.S. travel and tourism industry fell into its worst slump since World War II. The September 11 terrorist attacks and subsequent tightening of airport restrictions dealt the industry an unprecedented blow. Many travel destinations continued to suffer in 2002 and early 2003 from a declining stock market, sluggish economic recovery, and war in Iraq. Prior to these recent difficulties, however, travel and tourism?s role in the national economy had been rising steadily for decades.> As in the nation, the travel and tourism industry has become increasingly important in the Tenth Federal Reserve District. Indeed, by the late 1990s, the industry contributed more to gross output in the district than either agriculture or oil and gas extraction, the region?s defining industries for much of the 20th century. Travel and tourism is especially important in the district?s Rocky Mountain states, which are home to popular vacation spots like Yellowstone National Park, Santa Fe, and the Colorado ski resorts, as well as Denver, a top business travel destination.> Wilkerson compares and contrasts travel activity in the nation and Tenth District. He shows that national travel and tourism activity generally grows rapidly during economic expansions but slows during recessions. In the district, the effect of recessions on the industry is much less than in the nation, due largely to the different types of travelers the region attracts. At the same time, many travel destinations in the district are susceptible to other types of shocks, such as wildfires or inadequate snowfall, which can disrupt local activity.