Nearly all are goods and services provided by Tucsonans and local businesses so the majority of money spent stays in the metropolitan area. The Gem, Mineral and Fossil Showcase has been a major event in Tucson for 46 years. In fact, it has become Tucson's largest annual event. With thousands of participants and attendees the showcase is the largest of its kind in the world. Visitors to the shows find everything from gold and diamonds, to granite bookends and beads.
Taxes collected by the state and the city are sizeable.
The research also uncovered some information on gem show participants' kavel habits. About 22 percent of all exhibitors planned to stay an average 5.9 extra days in Tucson and 59 percent planned to return to Tucson on vacation. Half of the gem show owners surveyed plan to return to Tucson as visitors. We personally interviewed over 1100 gem shows participants. It is financially supported by the City of Tucson, Pima County, the Town of Oro Valley and its nearly 1000 individual and business members .