Fodor’s Travel names Utah top destination to visit in 2016

Fodor’s Travel, a leading name in travel recommendations for almost 80 years, named Utah “Top Destination to Visit” in its fifth annual Fodor’s Go List, which highlights 25 can’t-miss spots around the world. This is the first time Fodor’s has selected a top destination for the year rather than a roundup of equally-worthy locales.

“With so many destinations worth visiting it can be overwhelming for travelers to decide where they should go next,” said Arabella Bowen, editor in chief of Fodor’s Travel. “Our Go List helps guide travelers when they are making that decision and this year we went a step further by recommending Utah as our top destination to visit in 2016.”

Vicki Varela, managing director for the Utah Office of Tourism, Film and Global Branding, said the accolade is a huge bonus to the state’s growing brand and reputation.

“Having a prestigious travel publication like Fodor’s recognize the entire state as the top tourist destination in the world affirms what Utahns know — we are a bucket list destination to live, work and play.”

The Fodor’s announcement highlighted some of the reasons they chose Utah.

“With the newly expanded Park City, the largest single ski and snowboard resort in the U.S., five outstanding national parks celebrating the U.S. National Park Service Centennial, and unforgettable experiences like viewing fossils at Dinosaur National Monument, rafting the Colorado River or staying at a working ranch, Utah will be the place to get outdoors next year, making it worthy of the Go List’s top spot.”

To select the 2016 Go List, the Fodor’s editorial team began with an initial list of dozens of global and domestic nominees which they narrowed down to the top 25 places to go in 2016 after much heated internal debate. The end result is a Go List that highlights travel destinations sure to suit every taste, trip length, and budget.

The other destinations — which span six continents and 20 countries — are chosen by experts at Fodor’s Travel who log countless miles traveling across the globe each year. This year’s list incorporates everything from emerging destinations (Minneapolis’s North Loop) and new hotspots (Cuba) to noteworthy events (Bavaria’s Oktoberfest) and great values (San Sebastian, Spain) around the world.

The Utah Office of Tourism, an agency within the Governor’s Office of Economic Development, promotes out-of-state visitation to Utah through integrated communications, marketing, and travel trade initiatives. Tourism in Utah is a $7.8 billion industry, last year generating $1.07 billion in state and local tax revenue. The Utah tourism industry employs an estimated 137,192 Utahns.