Here’s why Garfield County wants to increase visitation to Utah’s ‘Mighty 5’ during peak months

Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah, date unspecified | Photo courtesy National Park Service, St. George News

ST. GEORGE — While droves of visitors pour into southern Utah every year to explore the state’s “Mighty 5” national parks, one of those five is being left in the red dust, leading tourism officials to reimagine how and when they want to attract visitors.

While four of Utah’s five national parks broke visitation records last year, Bryce Canyon National Park was the exception. It drew in 2.1 million visitors last year, which was about a 44% increase from 2020 but also a 19% decrease from 2019.

As of August, the park was on pace to replicate 2021. With 1.3 million visitors through July, visitation was up by only 33,000 visitors from the same point last year.

“We actually did see a decent increase in the fall months, so September, October. It still wasn’t what it was pre-pandemic, but I don’t know if that’s honestly attainable,” said Falyn Owens, director of the Garfield County Office of Tourism.

Read the full story here:  KSL News.

Written by LOGAN STEFANICH, KSL.com.

Copyright KSL.com.

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