FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

OVER $3 BILLION IN TOTAL TOURISM SALES IN 2023

SHORES & ISLANDS, OHIO, July 23, 2024 – Once again, Shores & Islands Ohio has set a record for travel and tourism in the region, both in terms of visitation and economic impact. In 2023, the region welcomed an estimated 13 million visitors! Based on numbers recently released in a bi-annual study conducted by Tourism Economics, one of the world’s leading providers of economic analysis, visitors to the region helped generate $3.1 billion in tourism sales in 2023, an increase of 17% from the 2021 study.

“These new numbers reinforce the importance of the travel and tourism industry to the economic vitality of the region and highlight the area’s continued appeal as a top travel destination in the Midwest,” said Shores & Islands Ohio President, Larry Fletcher. Renowned for its picturesque landscapes, coastal communities, historic sites, vibrant local culture, and an amazing array of fun attractions, this region has emerged as a cornerstone of Ohio’s economy.

Total tourism sales include direct, indirect, and induced spending and represent a number of different economic activities, including transportation, recreation, retail, lodging, food & beverage. The direct sales spending breakdown by sector for our area is approximately 17% retail, 16% transportation, 13% lodging, 12% food & beverage, and 11% recreation & entertainment.

In Shores & Islands Ohio, tourism also means jobs. Approximately 14,000 people are employed within the travel and tourism industry locally. Tourism wages were $477 million in 2023 for the two-county region.

In 2023, the tourism industry in the region also generated $382 million in taxes. More than $106 million in State of Ohio taxes were generated by Erie and Ottawa County tourism activities, with an additional $89 million in county taxes between Erie and Ottawa Counties. Tax dollars generated through tourism help support many of the municipal services our residents count on, and reduce our residents’ tax bills. It is estimated that in 2023, state and local tourism tax receipts contributed tax savings of $5,155 per household in Erie County and $1,682 per household in Ottawa County.

Along with other Lake Erie-bordering counties, including Lucas, Sandusky, Lorain, Cuyahoga, Lake, and Ashtabula, the Lake Erie coastal region had a total economic impact of $20 billion combined. The Lake Erie region also combined to create 131,000 jobs and $2.6 billion in taxes, all increases over 2021.

The data for this study is coordinated by Department of Development, TourismOhio and executed by Tourism Economics, a division of Oxford Economics.

 

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