A new analysis from the Regional Economics Institute at says a decline in tourist activity in Estes Park could ripple through the rest of the state's economy.
More than 3 million tourists in 2011 in Estes Park, with more than half of visitors coming from outside Colorado.
The town was already reeling from , which damaged or destroyed the two main routes into Estes Park, U.S. 34 and 36. Then, the federal government shutdown Tuesday led to across the country, including Rocky Mountain National Park.
"People can鈥檛 get there because of the roads... but now, even if they do go there, if they manage to get through -- the park鈥檚 closed," says the Institute鈥檚 director Martin Shields, who co-authored the report. "It鈥檚 a tragic economic situation for that community."
And the impact won鈥檛 be confined to Estes Park, says Shields, because many Rocky Mountain National Park vacations include side trips to other nearby Front Range areas, such as Boulder, Fort Collins or Steamboat Springs.
"The bottom line is that Colorado is going to be hard-hit 鈥� not just Estes Park, but the whole state's going feel an impact from this," says Shields. Repairing and rebuilding damaged roads is critical, he says, adding that prolonged inaccessibility could lead many potential visitors to reconsider their 2014 vacation plans.
The explores several scenarios, including the possibility that tourist visits could drop between 30 and 100 percent. A 70 percent decline in visitors Estes Park could translate into a loss of more than 1,100 tourism-related jobs and a $90 million decrease in economic activity statewide.
Gov. John Hickenlooper says rebuilding roads and bridges is a top priority 鈥� and he鈥檚 using state funds to ensure that repair work begun by the Colorado National Guard won鈥檛 be affected by the government shutdown.
State officials say the damage to state highways totals roughly $430 million, with 200 miles of roads and 50 bridges destroyed.
