New Mexico News Port
Journalism & Innovation @ UNM
Tourism numbers in New Mexico now exceeding pre-pandemic levels
By Joey Wagner/ NM News Port
As travel restrictions and mask mandates faded, tourism in New Mexico has not only bounced back, it has increased to levels even higher than they were before the pandemic.
The latest data from the state shows New Mexico welcomed 39 million visitors in 2021 – generating an estimated $7.2 billion in direct spending.
The number of visitors is a record high for the state, according to Cody Johnson, Communications Director for the New Mexico Tourism Department.
“Since around June 2021, we’ve seen an all time high for average daily rates, and that essentially just means hotel rates, but that is one key performance indicator that we’re seeing performed higher than in 2019,” he said.
Johnson says the direct spending figure of $7.2 billion comes close to matching the record set in 2019 of $7.4 billion.
Tourism is a major driver of employment in New Mexico, accounting for almost 84,000 jobs – about 8% of the state labor force.
Brenna Moore, Communications Director for Visit Albuquerque, says some of the big tourist draws to her city are the ABQ Biopark and the Sandia Mountain Tramway.
The Sandia Peak website says that the Tramway makes, on average, 10,500 trips in a year, and more than 12 million people have ridden the tram.
Another well known event is the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta , held yearly at Balloon Fiesta Park. According to numbers from BalloonFiesta.com , over 820,000 people attended the 2022 Fiesta,, even with weather restrictions causing eight of the 14 sessions to be cancelled.
Tourism in Albuquerque alone is a major booster for the economy of the city and the state. With around six million annual visitors coming to Albuquerque, they generate around $2 billion in tourism spending for the local economy.
Tourism had dropped sharply in New Mexico during the pandemic – to 35.2 million visitors in 2020. Revenues that year dipped to $5.8 billion.
In a study from Tourism Economics, the most tourism spending is on lodging – accounting for $2.4 billion in 2021. The next biggest targets are restaurants and bars, accounting for $1.7 billion, and retail sales, accounting for $1.3 billion. Transportation draws some $1.1 billion in spending .
“Albuquerque’s hotel occupancy rate for fiscal year 2022 averaged almost 65.6%, up from an average rate of 59% the previous year, when travel was still limited by the pandemic,” Moore said. “Our average occupancy rate exceeded the national average of 61.5%.”
The state tourism department is hoping the NM Legislature will increase its marketing budget by tens of millions of dollars in the future, to grow the industry, target new markets and keep ahead of inflation. According to the New Mexico True website , the New Mexico Tourism Department had their budget put their request for the 2024 fiscal year.
Including a $3 million increase for media inflation, a $4 million increase to sustain investments in the department’s growing cooperative programs and a $1.2 million increase to fund the department’s full-time employees.
“If we continue to spend on marketing and advertising at the same level year over year, while the cost of media increases, we’re going to run into a challenge of not being able to penetrate the markets as successfully as unless we continue to appropriately accommodate and adjust to inflation,” Johnson said.
Follow Joey Wagner on Twitter @/JdwUnmCj
news releases
City’s first tourism dashboard showcases industry, visitor data.
Details include Economic Impact, Visitor Details, Must-See Events, and Overall Growth since 2019
SANTA FE, February 6, 2024 – With data playing a major role in modern decision-making processes, the Santa Fe Data Platform is proud to announce the delivery of a powerful new Tourism Dashboard for the city of Santa Fe. Developed by TOURISM Santa Fe in partnership with the Santa Fe Data Platform, this dynamic resource provides free access to pre- and post-Covid data including lodging, car and air travel, annual events, and more. The dashboard tells a remarkable story about the important role tourism plays in Santa Fe’s economic vitality and is designed to help local and state industry professionals make better business decisions using both overall statistics, and ground-level detail on tourism in the city.
- Awareness , Community Issues
More Releases
Nominations are now open for 2024 william s. dixon first amendment freedom award.
311 Views Albuquerque, N.M. – The New Mexico Foundation for Open Government (FOG) is looking for New Mexicans who are upholding the principles of open
Daily Update, Thursday, June 27, 2024
294 Views Ground efforts hindered by severe weather conditions Interactive property map updates available for Village of Ruidoso. Property access status updates are available, including
EDD Awards Grants to Support Economic Capacity Initiatives
321 Views 11 projects to receive LEADS funding SANTA FE, N.M. – New Mexico Economic Development Department (EDD) Acting Cabinet Secretary Mark Roper announced
New Mexico unveils ambitious workforce development strategy
349 Views ALBUQUERQUE – The New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions released its 2024-2027 combined state plan Wednesday, marking a year of collaboration and development
Need help? Email us today at [email protected]
The New Mexico News Network is a service of the New Mexico Broadcasters Association.
Latest News
Latest releases.
Your browser is not supported for this experience. We recommend using Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Safari.
Back to New Mexico Home
- Native Culture
- Explore Ballooning
- New Mexico True Certified
- New Mexico Magazine
- Public Records
- Tourism Department Website
- Partner Login
- Become a Partner
- Legal & Privacy Policy
What's New in New Mexico
To have your news considered for posting on NMTourism.org and included in an upcoming Tourism Talk please email a press release and photo to [email protected].
New Mexico Tourism Department unveils economic impact calculator for events
Tourism talk.
Visit Albuquerque prohibits users from downloading images from our website.
Welcome to Albuquerque
At the heart of New Mexico beats the pulse of a vibrant city. In Albuquerque, diverse cultures , authentic art and dynamic traditions have helped shape our centuries-old story. No matter your interests, the city has countless opportunities for you to explore. Sample traditional New Mexican cuisine that takes minutes to make and hundreds of years to prepare, experience world-class museums , stroll along Central Avenue under the vintage neon glow of Route 66 , or soar high above the city in the hot air ballooning capital of the world — a sight sure to change your perspective.
Immerse yourself in our painted skies, abundant space and more than 310 days of sunshine, which make it possible to ski the slopes of the Sandia Mountains and play a round at one of our award-winning golf courses , all in the same day. Albuquerque is an oasis in the high desert, full of rich history and inspiring ideas. Plan your trip today , and leave Albuquerque viewing your own world in a whole new light.
ABQ365 Blog
Our team of locals keep you up to date on what to do, where to go, and where to eat and drink all around Albuquerque. Check out the ABQ365 Blog for insider tips.
Explore the city's art galleries, museum exhibitions, sporting events, eateries, fine dining, live music and cultural performances all in one place. The ABQ365 blog and calendar of events is the easiest way to discover the here and now.
COMMENTS
Research, Plans & Reports. The Research Program is responsible for providing the Tourism Department and its industry partners with visitor data and research studies that allow a better understanding of current and potential customers, provide insight into how New Mexico is perceived as a visitor destination, measure the effectiveness of the ...
In 2021, New Mexico surpassed the 2019 totals for domestic visitors by 1.5 million and domestic visitor spending by $159 million. The estimated spending per overnight trip was recorded at $335 for 2021, slightly surpassing the estimated overnight spending of $331 per trip in 2019. "The 2021 Tourism Economic Impact study is the greatest ...
Through the New Mexico True brand, the New Mexico Tourism Department is committed to growing New Mexico's economy through tourism. Learn More on our industry website. ... This dashboard features data for gross state product, employment and lodging performance. Please click on the separate tabs to view each data set.
In an outstanding display of New Mexico's growing appeal as a tourist destination, the state set a new record for direct visitor spending. A comprehensive study conducted by the New Mexico Tourism Department revealed that the state recorded an unprecedented $8.3 billion in direct visitor spending in 2022, marking a substantial increase of $1. ...
Methodology & data sources. Key Findings 04. Summary economic & fiscal impacts. Visitor Volume and Visitor Spending05. ... Total Economic Impact of Tourism in New Mexico in 2021. $10.0B. Total Economic Impact. 83,811. Total Jobs Generated. $708M. State & Local Taxes Generated. $7.2B. Direct Visitor Spending. $6.6 $7.1 $7.4 $5.8
The travel sector is an integral part of the New Mexico economy. Visitors generate significant economic benefits to households, businesses, and government alike and represent a critical driver of New Mexico's future. Gross output (business sales) attributable to visitor spending in New Mexico totaled $10.4 billion in 2019.
The New Mexico Tourism Department's (NMTD) marketing strategy is thoroughly research based, utilizing the ... As seen in the charts and tables on this and the following page, Tourism Economics data shows 10.1% growth in direct tourism employment since 2011 (or 6,511 additional jobs). Direct, Indirect and
the New Mexico Tourism Department revealed that the state recorded an unprecedented $8.3 billion in direct visitor spending in 2022, marking a substantial increase of $1.1 billion compared to 2021. This achievement exceeds the previous all-time high set in 2019 at $7.4 billion. "New Mexico's record-breaking tourism success in 2022 is a ...
The tourism department cites numbers from the marketing research company Longwoods International. Their 2022 report shows there were about 16.7 million overnight trips to New Mexico that year and ...
The latest data from the state shows New Mexico welcomed 39 million visitors in 2021 - generating an estimated $7.2 billion in direct spending. The number of visitors is a record high for the state, according to Cody Johnson, Communications Director for the New Mexico Tourism Department. "Since around June 2021, we've seen an all time ...
NEW MEXICO (KRQE) - Early data shows New Mexico tourism is rebounding quicker than expected. In December 2020, things looked different. "A winter surge was really starting to take r…
ich encompasses everything from recreation activities to retail. This $7.1 billion sum was an astounding increase of 7% over the prior year (for comparison, the increase in visitor spending from 2016 - 2017 rounded out at 3. 2%), and New Mexico saw growth in all major spending categories. The greatest growth was in lodgi.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico saw a record-breaking number of almost 40 million visitors last year, according to a new report released this week by the state's tourism office. The study determined 39.2 million people came to the Land of Enchantment and generated $7.2 billion in spending across the state, the Albuquerque Journal reported.
Financial Analysis of the Department as a Whole. Net Position: Total Department net position for fiscal year ending June 30, 2019 is $2,654,409: $1,949,594 in governmental and $704,815 in business-type activities. Restricted net position is restricted, for special revenue funds.
Industry Resources. The New Mexico Tourism Department's "Resources" section contains extensive department research, statistics on tourism in the state, and presentations given by NMTD. You will also find our latest comprehensive media plan that demonstrates where and when New Mexico True advertising will be in market, and assets available ...
But as measures eased up in 2021, tourism also went up. Tourism last year drove up the food and beverage industry in New Mexico, which saw $1.7 billion in direct sales. The report also found ...
New Mexico's tourism industry supports more than 83,800 jobs, which represents 8% of the state's labor force. Earlier this month, the NMTD presented its fiscal year 2024 budget request to the ...
New Mexico Tourism Department March 2018 . Y/Y % Growth. ... are 2 year averages from Longwoods International 201 5 and 2016 TravelUSA® data. 2 : A day trip is any journey more than 50 miles from home, for business or pleasure, outside your community, not part of your normal routine
USTA data: New Mexico Travel Spending ($ Millions) Source: United States Travel Association $4,028 $4,039 $4,082 $4,169 $4,446 $4,888 $5,385
SANTA FE, February 6, 2024 - With data playing a major role in modern decision-making processes, the Santa Fe Data Platform is proud to announce the delivery of a powerful new Tourism Dashboard for the city of Santa Fe. Developed by TOURISM Santa Fe in partnership with the Santa Fe Data Platform, this dynamic resource provides free access to ...
Enhancing the data integrity for tourism-related events will help communities and event planners make decisions informed by data. ... The New Mexico tourism industry has suffered severe economic injury due to the COVID-19 pandemic. NMTD estimates the state lost over $3.15 billion in visitor spending in 2020. The estimated loss of visitor ...
VISITORS GUIDE. Immerse yourself in our painted skies, abundant space and more than 310 days of sunshine, which make it possible to ski the slopes of the Sandia Mountains and play a round at one of our award-winning golf courses, all in the same day. Albuquerque is an oasis in the high desert, full of rich history and inspiring ideas.
New Mexico has a land area of 121,280.1 square miles and a water area of 280.9 square miles. It is the 5th largest state by area. Skip to ... searching existing data sources, gathering, and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the information collection. All responses to this information collection are voluntary.