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Heading into another summer holiday weekend, two sets of figures show how Utah has been hurt by the recession and how it has managed to weather the downturn pretty well.

On the down side, hotel occupancy percentages continue to run well below 2008 levels -- by 7 percent statewide in June and 10 percent in Salt Lake County. But at least June's figures were no worse than they were in May and match up pretty consistently with the yearlong trend.

On the plus side, higher visitation figures at Utah's five national parks confirm what travel experts had predicted for this summer -- that lower gasoline prices would prompt many people to take road trips closer to home, and that international visitors would not abandon travel plans because of global financial ills.

And that appears to be the case, with June visitation to Utah's national parks up 14 percent over the same month a year earlier, when gas prices hit record highs. In the year's first six months, the five parks attracted almost 3 million visitors, nearly 6 percent more than in the first half of 2008.

"We have been working strongly, both internationally and nationally, for our national parks so that we're better positioned to take advantage of those people who are traveling," said Leigh von der Esch, managing director of the Utah Office of Tourism.

Zach Bynum, general manager of the Best Western Canyonlands Inn in Moab, has benefited from the results.

"Occupancy since mid-March has been even higher than last year," he said, pleased that visitation last month to Arches National Park was up 12 percent over the previous June. While its numbers were smaller, Canyonlands experienced a 25 percent year-to-year increase.

"With the economy hurting as it has been, many people are taking smaller vacations," said Bynum. "Travelers from Salt Lake and the front range of Colorado seem to be coming here rather than taking trips to Mexico or Hawaii."

More foreign visitors also are starting to come in, as they typically do in late July and August, Bynum added.

The international rush already has begun at Bryce Canyon, which registered a whopping 35 percent visitation increase last month compared to June of 2008.

Garfield County Travel Council Executive Director Bruce Fullmer said that when he went to the new Ebenezer's Bar and Grill by Ruby's Inn the other night, an entertainer asked people in the packed house where they came from.

"They were all from Europe or Asia, until a guy in the corner raised his hand and said 'I'm United States.' Our international visitors are 70 to 75 percent of our business," he said.

But it's not the French, Dutch and Asians alone, Fullmer added, citing a recent half marathon that drew 1,500 runners (mostly from Utah and Las Vegas) and a motorcycle ride that directed another 1,000 Harley riders through his county on a journey that started at Brian Head Resort above Parowan.

"It takes a little bit of everything to make it all happen in areas like this," he said. "But the park [Bryce] is generally what brings people."

Tourism Office Deputy Director Dave Williams observed that lower airfares in recent months have helped, adding "you never know when they're going to go up again."

Like airfare, hotel room rates were down in June -- statewide about $5.50 a night to $98.48. The declines mean local governments get less transient room tax revenue.

But as Danny Richardson, executive director of the Utah Tourism Industry Coalition noted: "The volume of visitors is good, though, which supports the restaurants and gift shops. ... This downturn won't last forever."

mikeg@sltrib.com

Hotel occupancy in June

For the second straight month, hotel occupancy levels across the state were down 7 percent to 10 percent in June, compared to the same month a year earlier. Occupancy percentages were:

Statewide » 61.7

Salt Lake County » 63.6

Davis County » 75.8

Ogden » 66.8

Utah County » 64.7

Logan » 61.6

Cedar City » 63

St. George » 55.3

Mountain resorts » 42.5

Elsewhere in Utah » 71

Source: Rocky Mountain Lodging Report