Idaho’s tourism industry employs more than 26,000 workers and adds $3.4 billion to the state’s economy, according to the U.S. Travel Association. That means about 3.4 percent of Idaho’s workforce is employed in tourism or tourism-related enterprises.

Local tourism organizations apply for and receive grants through the Idaho Travel Grant Program and leverage the state’s natural beauty and low cost of doing business to attract film productions. The department also works with local communities to promote local festivals, niche attractions and professional conferences.

The efforts seem to be paying dividends. According to the Idaho Department of Labor’s Long-Term Industry Projections for 2010-2020, several industries related to tourism will see employment increases.
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