DENVER— Colorados Welcome Centers greeted more than one million visitors in 2001, with a total of 1,007,999 people traveling through the states eight centers, according to the Governor’s Office of Economic Development and International Trade. Launched 15 years ago, the Welcome Centers were created as part of the Colorado Tourism Office to educate the road traveler on the various activities— cultural, recreational and otherwise— available in the state. “The Colorado Welcome Center program is just one more way for us to share Colorados hospitality and to spotlight all that Colorado has to offer, said Bill Jensen, chairman of the Colorado Tourism Office Board. “The Welcome Centers one million milestone highlights the importance of this programs role in encouraging people to experience all the remarkable vacation opportunities in Colorado. The Governor’s Office noted the increase may be due in part to a jump in the number of drive-to travelers post-Sept. 11. A 1998 study performed by Colorado State University showed that a visitor who stops at a Colorado Welcome Center spends 2.2 more days in the state, and therefore more dollars, than a visitor who does not stop for information. The study also showed that in 2000, Colorado Welcome Centers boosted Colorados economy by more than $53.5 million. Tourism provides more than 200,000 jobs to employees in the state. In 2000 (latest figures available), approximately $7 billion, or $19 million per day, was spent in Colorado by business and leisure travelers.