Colorado River Outfitters Association’s (CROA) reports that the state's whitewater rafting industry posted an 8.1 percent increase in user days last year compared with 2013. Overall, the industry had a more than $160 million economic impact on the state’s
economy, according to CROA's 2014
Colorado Commercial River Use Report.
In 2014, CROA members reported more than 504,400 total commercial user days; up from 461,252 in 2013 and just 6 percent below the record set in 2007. A user day is defined as a paying guest on the river for any part of of a day. The 2014 numbers were an increase over both the 2013 and 2012 seasons. Strong flows in the 2014 season added to the increase in use, with long seasons running on all rivers across the state.
“In 2014, Colorado had above average snow pack, and a longer, slower runoff, which helped buoy the rafting season across the state,” said CROA Executive Director David Costlow. “Last year, Colorado’s rafting industry overall saw a return to a ‘normal’ season, and in fact was only six percent lower than the record setting 2007 season which brought more than 530,00 rafters to Colorado’s rivers.”
The outlook for 2015 is positive, especially with lower gas prices. Snowpack levels throughout much of the state are near average heralding an excellent snowmelt season that promises exciting conditions and another long summer season on all rivers.
The complete Commercial River Use Report can be downloaded at www.croa.org.
CROA is a trade association representing more than 45 licensed professional whitewater rafting outfitters across the state of Colorado. CROA’s mission is to: (1) promote Colorado as the premier river rafting destination in the United States, (2) support members’ efforts to attract visitors to Colorado and (3) provide a reasoned voice on industry developments and matters of policy affecting commercial boating and Colorado’s tourism economy as a whole.
