New Mexico city near Navajo Nation sees tourism jump

GALLUP, N.M. – A western New Mexico city surrounded by Navajo culture and Native arts and crafts is experiencing a tourism boom not seen since the 1970s.

Officials in Gallup, New Mexico, say the city has seen an increase of about 7 to 10 percent in visitors thanks to foreign tourists, The Gallup Independent reports .

Helping drive the interest in Native culture and crafts is a favorable exchange rate that makes it economical for foreign tourists to visit in the summer, according to tourism officials in the city.

Gallup-McKinley County Chamber of Commerce director Bill Lee says the area is seeing visitors from Australia, New Zealand, Germany, France and Belgium.

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