Keywords
Utah, Tourism, Economic Development
Abstract
Tourism in Utah is largely driven by seasonal recreation at its variety of natural-heritage resources through all its seasons. This study uses empirical evidence and empirical testing to explain different variables to examine if there is a long run relationship between economic development and tourism in the state of Utah. Traditionally, in order to measure the impact that tourism has had over economic growth, variables such as the nominal and real GDP among other income variables have been used and just give one-sided economic approach. However, what can be said about tourism as an economic development tool?
This study will use and test variables that explain the economic development and tourism behavior in the state of Utah. For the economic development, this study will use the non-Income Human Development Index derived from the Human Development Index (HDI) which was originally developed by the United Nations; and to explain tourism, we will use Taxable Accommodation Sales and Leisure and Hospitality Sales in the state of Utah from 1990 to 2016.
The methodology of this research uses VAR – a bivariate vector auto regression – to examine the relationship between tourism and economic development in Utah and applies the Granger Causality test to determine the causal nature of the relationship. Previous studies have found a significant relationship between economic development and tourism growth. The results of this study can be used by the Utah State Government to assist on budget resources on specific areas of tourism.
Recommended Citation
Aristondo, Jhana
(2019)
"Tourism in Utah as an Economic Development Tool,"
Marriott Student Review: Vol. 2:
Iss.
3, Article 8.
Available at:
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/marriottstudentreview/vol2/iss3/8
Included in
Marriott Student Review is a student journal created and published as a project for the Writing for Business Communications course at Brigham Young University (BYU). The views expressed in Marriott Student Review are not necessarily endorsed by BYU or The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.