The Winslow mail., 1925-09-04
HOW THE STATE
BENEFITS FROM
TOURIST TRAVEL

swered. The man on the street in
Phoenix, Tucson, Globe, Miami.
Flagstaff, Winslow, Williams, Rice,
Springerville, Yuma, Mesa, Flor
ence, Nogales, Holbrook, Winslow,
Stafford, Clifton, Benson, Bisbee,
Douglas and other Arizona towns
realize that Arizona is deriving
great benefit from the tourist tray
ell, but very few can realize the
enormous value of good roads to
the state.
Figures recently compiled by
statisticians of the Arizona high
way department, after a thorough
investigation of the traffic census
records, show that the state is de-
irving an annual revenue from
tourist travel of more the $10,000,-
900. This vast sum does not reach
the state treasury, but is the gross
volume of business from tourist
traffic to the citizens of the state
Estimating that at least 10 per cent
of this sum is profit, the merchants
of Arizona derive $1,000,000 an
nually in profits from tourist
travel.
The figures compiled by the stat
isticians show that an average of
10000 foreign automobiles enter
Arizona each month, and that each
car contains an average of 3 5 per-
sons. This, carried out by simple
multiplication, shows that the
average of tourists enter
ing the state is $4,000 persons.
The yearly influx of foreign cars
is estimated by the statisticians at
10000, carry $4,000 persons. Each
person, it is estimated, spends
while in the state at least SO per
day for lodgin, food, gasoline and
oil and other supplies.
The trip across the state is more
than 500 miles in length and, with
the side trips that are taken, it is
estimated that at least five days are
consumed by tourists in going across
the state. With the average of SO
per day followed out, each tourist
while in the state will spend at
least SIS for the five days. Six
hundred and seventy-twO thousand
persons, each spending SIS in the
state, bring the total annual reve-
nue. to the merchants of the state
to $1O,080 900.
This seems staggering figure,
but when one takes the time to
think one can readily realize that
the estimates of the statisticians
are conservative, since tourist trav-
ell in Arizona from foreign cars has
increased in the last three years at
the rate of 80 per cent per year.
The park service records of the
Grand Canyon show that from the
time of the opening of the park
this year, more than 100000 persons
have visited this famous scenic
wonder. The records show that
during the month of June, Cali
fornia led the automobile travel to
the Grand Canyon with 900 cars,
while Arizona was second with 700
cars. Cars from every state in the
Union were registered at the cam
yOn.
The records include the tourists
registered on both the north and
south rims of the canyon. While
the greater majority of travel was
on the south rim, the touristNre
on the north rim in May
showed an increase of 12S per cent
over May, 1924, and for June of 81
per cent over June, 1924.
The south rim of the canyon at
present is far more accessible than
the north rim, and extensive i'm
provements in the road from the
Old Trails highway to the canyon
are contemplated now by the gov
ernment.
The north rim of the canyon now
Is virtually isolated from Arizona,
but is becoming a great asset to
Utah. The construction of road
rom the Old Trails highway cross
ng the Colorado river in the vicin-
ty of Lees Ferry, connecting with
he roads now built and contem-
plated by the government to the
lorth rim, and connecting also with
he Utah highway system near the
xaibab forest on the north rim Of
he canyon as well as with the en-
ire park-to-park highway system
% the north, would prove a very
Jaluable asset to Arizona.
The tourist not only is an asset
commercially, but is a valuable ad-
yertising medium. The number Of
ourists visiting Arizona each year
S almost double the total pOpula-
ion of the state. These may be |
made either boosters or knockers
If Arizona. The Arizona highways
nave gained the enviable position
If being heralded as equal TO the /
pest and second to none among the
)ther states, for the highways that
ire now constructed and main |
aimed are a revelation to transcon-
mental tourists.
These highways should be, and
must be, increased, and the same
nigh standard of maintenance con-
,inued. This is necessary for the
welfare of the state, since high
ways are bringing tourists in in
,reasing numbers to Arizona. But
here is one other essential factor
that will make boosters for the
state in addition to the booster for
good roads. This essential factor
costs the people of the state moth
ing but means everything to the
tourist. 1t is seldom found, though