Colorado and Denver tourism set records

A record 27.1 million vacationers visited Colorado in 2013, according to the  latest results of an annual study of tourism in the state.

That total constituted a 5 percent increase over the previous year, Longwoods International reported in a study commissioned by Visit Denver, the convention and visitors bureau.

Denver also set records for tourism in 2013 with spending by overnight visitors increasing 12 percent to top $4 billion for the first time. Visitors spent $1.1 billion on hotels and other lodging; $1.1 billion on gasoline, car rentals and other transportation purchases; $796 million on food and beverages; and $549 million on purchases at retail stores.

A record 14 million overnight visitors traveled to the city in 2013, up 3 percent from 2012. Visits by marketable leisure travelers — those who can travel to any destination, but choose to come to Denver — increased 13 percent to a record-high 5.5 million.