Figures released last week by the California Travel & Tourism Commission showed a 6.7 percent increase in overall visitors over 2004, with a 15.4 percent increase in leisure travel. California also increased its share of the U.S. domestic travel market from 10.8 percent to 11.1 percent, maintaining its position as the most-visited state, according to data compiled for the state by travel research firm D.K. Shifflet & Associates.

California also attracted 4.8 million foreign visitors, which was up 14.3 percent from 2004 (4.2 million visitors) and represented 22.1 percent of total overseas travelers. China cracked the top 10 of foreign-visitor numbers for the first time in 2005, a ranking led by the United Kingdom, Japan, Australia and Germany.

By contrast, Utah had an estimated 18.2 million out-of-state visitors in 2005, a 4 percent increase, including 650,000 foreigners. Utah's Office of Tourism said traveler spending rose an estimated 9.9 percent in 2005 to $5.45 billion, supporting 119,900 jobs and generating $433 million in state and local tax revenues. Tourism tax receipts were up 6.9 percent.

California's travel and tourism expenditures totaled $88.1 billion, supporting 911,800 jobs and generating $5.3 billion in state and local tax revenues.

- Mike Gorrell