Colorado’s tourism industry set a new record in traveler spending for 2025, thanks in part to increased visitation to Denver and western mountain towns. However, economic and environmental challenges emerging in 2026 could spell challenges for the tourism industry going forward, experts warn. Colorado tourism contributed a record $29.2 billion to the state’s economy in 2025, according to a Tuesday release by Gov. The Rockies Playground Region recorded the second-highest visitor spending in 2025 at $4.5 billion, roughly 15% of the state’s overall spending. Pitkin, Summit and Eagle counties were among the counties in the region with the greatest contributions to tourism spending.