The Value Of Tourism

Aurora, Colorado, is a vibrant community that thrives on its unique combination of natural beauty, cultural diversity, and business opportunities. Tourism plays a critical role in fueling the city’s economy. Visit Aurora exists to harness this potential, promoting the city as a premier travel destination and ensuring that visitor spending drives economic growth.

In 2023, visitors to Aurora
contributed an estimated
$2.15 billion in direct travel
spending to the local economy¹

Picture this: every traveler captured by the allure of our destinations contributes to a dynamic cycle of economic prosperity. Investment in travel marketing doesn't just attract more visitors; it sets off a chain reaction. Visitors spend freely across a variety of sectors—each dollar circulates through restaurants shops, hotels, and entertainment venues. This spending is not isolated, as each sector supports many livelihoods, from chefs and taxi drivers to innkeepers and artisans.


Empowering Local Communities: For our city, this influx of travel dollars translates into tangible benefits. It generates jobs, increases wages, and produces vital tax revenues that are reinvested into community services. The additional revenue from local sales and lodgers taxes support our schools, pave our roads, and ensure our public spaces remain safe and inviting—the very amenities that also enhance the lives of our residents. 25% of the lodger’s tax revenue is reinvested to keep Aurora at the top of visitors' minds.


In 2023, Visit Aurora generated
$138.5 million in future
economic impact through
hotel group bookings³

Strategic Vision for Sustainable Tourism: As stewards of our local economy, we must leverage these insights to nurture a balanced approach to tourism that respects our community’s identity and conserves our cultural and natural resources. By focusing on sectors with the highest impact, such as meetings, conventions, and events, we can create memorable experiences that entice visitors while fostering economic resilience.


COMMUNITY PRIDE AND NATIONAL RECOGNITION

Tourism in Aurora fosters local pride and deepens community bonds while simultaneously elevating the city's national reputation. As residents share its unique landscape and cultural richness, strategic promotional efforts position Aurora on a broader stage, highlighting its innovation, hospitality, and inclusivity. This dual approach ensures Aurora is both celebrated locally and recognized nationally as a premier destination, driving economic growth and enriching the community's cultural tapestry.

Colfax Ave Fox Theater

About Visit Aurora is the official destination marketing organization for the City of Aurora, Colorado and acts as the primary liaison between meeting planners and hotel partners.

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Hotel Partners With more than 13,500 hotel rooms in Aurora and the Greater Metro Area, Visit Aurora has accommodations for every visitor.

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References: 1. Dean Runyan Associates, "The Economic Impact of Travel, Colorado.” 2. City of Aurora, "Lodgers Tax Collections"(excluding city incentives and fees). 3. Visit Aurora, "2023 Annual Report."