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ST. GEORGE, Utah (AP) — Southern Utah's parks have been attracting a record number of visitors in 2015.
The Spectrum of St. George reports that Bryce Canyon National Park broke its record number of visitors in a calendar year by hitting 1.5 million in September.
Nearby Zion National Park is expected to reach more than 3.2 million visitors this month, setting a new record.
Other parks like Canyonlands, Cedar Breaks and Pipe Spring are also poised to set records.
Low gas prices, mild weather and broader interest in outdoor recreation might be fueling the increase in visitors. Many officials at the 2015 Utah Tourism conference also credited Utah's "Might 5" tourism initiative.
The Utah Office of Tourism estimates that the number of visitors has picked up by 44 percent since major marketing began 2005.
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