Idaho State Tourism - Things To Do
Boise, Idaho - When tourist think of Idaho, usually their first thought is about the famous potatoes that are grown there. The state’s tourism agency would like to shift that thought and let the rest of us know about their mountains, ski resorts, lakes, and rivers as well. Instead of the question where is Idaho? and what do people do there? The tourism industry of Idaho would like to get the message out, that Idaho is a great place to visit.
Idaho draws about a third of its tourists from within the state, and the single largest out-of-state source for Idaho visitors is Spokane, Wash. Another 12 percent of Idaho’s visitors come from outside the country, half of those from Canada. The remaining international visitors are mostly from Western Europe.
Tourism in Idaho is growing at 6 percent or more per year, and travelers in the state spent an estimated $3.82 billion in 2005, according to a study commissioned by the state Department of Commerce and released earlier this year.
Idaho Tourism officials believe the potential is unlimited, if they can get the word out, because currently not enough people know about it. There hope is for steady and sustainable growth in their tourism. Their also hoping that the coming up Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics will help Idaho’s ski resorts like Sun Valley, Schweitzer, and Tamarack Resort.
Idaho has been growing about 6 to 8 percent a year, which is not a bad growth pattern at all. Idaho’s tourism center would just like to get steady growth and get the word out about the great things to do in this state.
Idaho draws visitors looking for niches within the travel market, like great snow skiing, whitewater rafting, a bunch of high-quality golf courses, camping, food and wine tours, and lots of outdoor things to do.
Back in December of 2006 we wrote an article about the securest places to live in America. The Boise, Idaho area topped that list by being the most secure large metropolitan area (population 500,000 or more) in the Country. St. George, Utah was the most secure small town in the survey (population of less than 150,000).
Potatoes grow where there’s high elevation, clear days, and cool nights. The things that make for great potatoes are the things that make for a great vacation.