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TOURISM
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Tourism accounts for one of every 10 jobs and adds over $1.8 billion per year to the local economy. Travel and tourism produce 40,000 jobs in all of the sectors listed in the Employment section above, and has been one of the most rapidly growing industries in Tucson.
TOP TOURIST ATTRACTIONS*
ATTRACTION
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ATTENDANCE (2005-2006)
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DESCRIPTION
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Saguaro National Park
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740,207
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Saguaro cacti, Upper Sonoran Desert biota, hiking trails, visitor center
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Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
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470,000
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Zoological park, geological museum, botanical garden
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Reid Park Zoo
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445,117
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17-acre zoo, animals in natural settings, gift shop
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Pima Air & Space Museum
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300,000
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Operate Pima Air & Space Museum & Titan Missile Museum including over 200 of the most important aircraft in history
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Pima County Fairgrounds
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250,000
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County fair, exhibits, 4-H, concerts, carnival rides
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Patagonia Lake State Park/ Sonoita Creek
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202,785
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Camping, boating and fishing
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Kartchner Caverns State Park
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198,374
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Guided cave tours, gift shop, campground
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Old Tucson Studios
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196,000
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Family theme park, movie location, live entertainment
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Mt. Lemmon Ski Valley
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188,000
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Restaurant, shops, hiking, skiing, lifts
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Tohono Chul Park
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175,238
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Sonoran desert plants, culture, lectures, nature trails, nursery, bird watching, shops, tearoom
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Colossal Cave Park
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155,000
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Large, dry cavern, guided tours, picnicking
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Arizona Historical Society Museums
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132,000
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Museum, lectures, exhibits, tours, library, archives
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Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block
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130,000
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Historic district, museum, art museum
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Catalina State Park
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124,942
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Camping, picnicking, hiking, equestrian center, and scenic beauty
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Picacho Peak State Park
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105,300
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Camping, hiking, picnicking
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Kitt Peak National Observatory
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100,000
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Public tours, evening star gazing, exhibits, educational programs
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Tucson Botanical Gardens
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100,000
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Gardens, educational classes, gift shop, nursery
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Columbia University's Biosphere 2 Center
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65,000
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Science and research center, tours, exhibits, displays, multi-media presentations
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Tucson Children’s Museum
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73,867
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Hands-on children’s activities, interactive exhibits, educational guided tours
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International Wildlife Museum
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64,750
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Interactive exhibits with 400+ species
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University of Arizona Museum of Art
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60,500
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Medieval, renaissance, 19th century, modernist, and contemporary art
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Tombstone Courthouse
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48,247
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Historic courthouse
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Flandrau Science Center
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45,620
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Planetarium theater, mineral museum, public telescope
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Arizona State Museum
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36,000
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Oldest and largest anthropology museum in the Southwest, exhibits, public programs, library, gift shop
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*Source: Inside Tucson Business 2007 Book of Lists
Links to Information about Travel and Tourism in Tucson and Arizona
Economic Impacts of Mexican Visitors to Arizona: 2001 (Internet Link to PDF)
Tourism in the Tucson Metro Area (PDF 587KB)
Tucson International Airport Statistics (Internet Link)
Total Passengers Tucson International Airport: 1995-2007 (PDF 22KB)
The Economic Significance of the Arizona Travel Industry (PDF 372KB)
Arizona Travel Impacts 1998-2005 (PDF 806KB)
July 12, 2006, Arizona tourism: we’re back by Levi J. Long/ Arizona Daily Star (Internet Link) | |
