SAM Magazine-Albuquerque, N.M., Apr. 27, 2010-El Nino lived up to its billing, bringing abundant snow across New Mexico this past winter. And that fueled a 23 percent increase in visits compared to 2008-09, according to Ski New Mexico. The visit total was 964,793, making this the best year since 2000-01.

Ski New Mexico executive director George Brooks said that the weak economy benefited the state's areas, as it encouraged more drive-to visits rather than air travel, and New Mexico has traditionally been a drive-to market.

But the economy wasn't that bad: Ski New Mexico filgures the industry brought in $541 million in business, a rise of $61 million from the previous year.

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