Tourism to Utah’s national parks has grown substantially in recent years. Over 20 million people per year visit the state’s wilderness areas. The increase in tourism is due partially to a well-funded marketing campaign by the state government. However, many people are hearing about the Beehive State’s natural treasures through other means.
Dennis Godfrey of the Bureau of Land Management’s Arizona office said that the increase in visitors to Paria Canyon –which sits on both sides of the Utah-Arizona border –is mostly attributed to word-of-mouth advertising.
“[It’s] a general up-crease in interest in the areas. In some of those areas we limit the number of people per day that are allowed in, but yes, over the years there’s been an increasing amount of interest in visiting those sights,” he said. “The interest is largely people who have been there, looked at it, and have been impressed and passed that information on. It’s just extremely popular and visible, and very beautiful.”
BLM officials are changing the fees and entrance policies of many of the parks in response to the increase in visitors. Godfrey said that the environmental impact of tourism remains a key aspect of determining park policy.
“These are wilderness areas and wilderness is designated to protect the resource. That’s the reason that we do that,” he said. “We also, because it’s wilderness, want those who can participate to enjoy the wilderness experience, which is solitude in many cases. That’s all a part of the factors as we decide what to do in protecting and limiting access to these special places.”
The BLM is currently seeking public comment on proposed changes to Paria Canyon’s permit reservation process.
