What a grand event: Grand Canyon reaches one million visitor mark in 2015

PHOENIX — The Grand Canyon has officially surpassed one million visitors for 2015, according to a recent press release.

On Monday, officials with the Grand Canyon recorded their one-millionth visitors for 2015, Jenny and Mike Kim. The Kims were treated to a “full range of experiences available to Grand Canyon West visitors” as their celebration, the press release said.

Hualapai Tribal Council Chairwoman Sherry Counts said the accomplishment represented an increase of more than 120,000 guests over the past year. 

“That’s huge – and these attractions will continue to get better in the year ahead,” she said in the press release. “A new visitors center, a new restaurant and other new attractions means more reasons for people to visit in 2016. We want every day and every visit to be memorable for one and all.”

Grand Canyon Resort Corporation CEO Mark Mortenson said the influx of visitors will lead to a better lifestyle for the region overall.

“One million visitors to Grand Canyon West in the past year means more revenue for the region, more jobs and better quality of life for so many residents,” he said in the press release. “We look forward to performing even better in 2016 and continuing to drive the tourism industry across the region.”

In 2013, the Grand Canyon saw approximately 827,000 visitors, a number that rose to just 882,000 in 2014. The one million-visitor mark means the number of visitors grew more than 13 percent in the past year, according to the press release.

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