SAM Magazine—Salt Lake City, Utah, May 21, 2019—Utah ski resorts recorded 5,125,441 skier visits during the 2018-19 season, breaking the previous record of 4.58 million set in 2016-17 by 12 percent. Visits were up 24 percent over last season.

Consistent snowfall was a major contributor to the busy winter—every ski resort in the state recorded above-normal snow totals for the season. At least one Utah resort saw measurable snowfall on 111 of the 151 days from November 15 to April 15. Since resorts opened for the season, no more than seven days passed without snowfall.

“It was a great season to ski and ride in Utah, and our visitor numbers reflect that,” said Ski Utah president and CEO Nathan Rafferty. “Snow is a big business driver and snowfall numbers across the state were some of the best we’ve seen in recent years. Our resorts invested in programming and capital improvements to elevate experiences on and off the mountain. We also gained new visitors through expanded season pass options. This record season speaks to the strength of Utah’s ski industry and its role in winter tourism for our state.”

Utah’s ski industry is a major contributor to the state’s economy. The 2017-18 season was the state’s second-best season from an economic standpoint, with $1.322 billion in total visitor spending. Out-of-state skier and snowboarder spending ($1.068 billion) resulted in the creation of more than 21,000 total jobs and $226.4 million in state and local tax revenue.

Economic impact numbers for the 2018-19 season will be available later this summer.

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