New Mexico’s year in tourism was marked by an increase in conventions and conferences, the state’s debut in a national parade, and volatile gasoline prices, according to New Mexico Business Weekly.
“The year started out rosy with national attention focused on New Mexico,” wrote the newspaper.
The state participated in last year’s Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, Calif., which the New Mexico Tourism Department says was a tremendous success in marketing the state to the entire country. It estimates that the national exposure on television and in other media was worth $1.1 million.
“One of the biggest stories of the year, which affected nearly every part of the state’s $4.95-billion tourism industry, was rising gas prices,” the newspaper wrote.
They reached record levels in the state in the middle of the year, when gas prices peaked at more than $3 a gallon in Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Las Cruces and other parts of the state.
Aside from weighing heavy on the wallets of New Mexicans, the hefty gas prices caused tourists to cut back on spending and travel, according to the news report.
The net effect was more hotels saw an increase in vacancies during the summer season, when tourist travel is usually heavy. In response, the Tourism Department launched a regional campaign, “Half a Tank Away,” in hopes of drawing more tourists who live within driving distance of the state.
Albuquerque was ranked the number one city in the nation to build a business or career by Forbes and No. 3 in the nation for smartest places to live by Kiplinger’s Personal Finance.
“The increased attention might be boosting the city’s convention business, or perhaps the national publications are only finding out what convention planners already knew last year,” said the report.
Last November, conferences and conventions alone are believed to have brought in 7,000 visitors and more than $4 million in direct spending to the local economy, said Albuquerque Convention & Visitor’s Bureau (ACVB) President and CEO Dale Lockett.
Indian gaming also continues to play a key role to New Mexico’s tourism industry.
Report by David Wilkening
