A survey from around the Kingman, Ariz., area revealed that tourism accounted for $165 million in direct expenditures and 2,100 jobs to the local economy in 2010, according to a report in the Kingman Daily Miner.
That impact grows dramatically to $268 million and 3,101 jobs for Mohave County when including indirect and induced expenditures: Revenues resulting from inter-industry transactions and dollars recirculated within the community by tourism industry employees. […]
Respondents of the survey represented all but two states, 21% from California, and 55 countries, 31% from Canada.
International traffic to Kingman represented a whopping 28% of the sample. “That is a good percentage of foreign visitors – relatively few communities in rural Arizona have that high a number,” said Thomas Combrink, senior research analyst. “It is because of your location and because of old Route 66; foreign visitors love old Route 66.”
More than 2,500 surveys were completed, so officials hold a great deal of confidence in the results’ veracity.
Respondents rated very high their interest in “Route 66 Experience” or “scenic drives.” The only activity that rated as high was “visiting national and state parks” — i.e. the nearby Grand Canyon. All other activities listed were rated well below those levels.
A 205-page PDF report of the surveys can be seen here.