State Study: Warren County, Ohio Tourism Industry Hits Record High
Warren County, OH (July 14, 2022) – Warren County, Ohio’s robust tourism economy just hit a new high.
According to a new study just released by Tourism Economics and TourismOhio, tourism in “Ohio’s Largest Playground” accounted for a record $1.45 billion in economic impact in 2021. That figure is a 34.3% increase over 2020 and an 8.5% increase from 2019 (the county’s previous record). It also represents a significant resurgence for Warren County tourism following COVID-19’s debilitating, worldwide impact on the travel and tourism industry.
“The early days of the pandemic were among the most challenging times the tourism industry has ever faced, not just here in Warren County but across the state, the nation and around the world. But as soon as it was safe to travel again we saw a surge of visitors into Warren County,” said Phillip S. Smith, President & CEO of the Warren County Convention & Visitors Bureau (WCCVB). “While we still have plenty of work to do to get our region’s tourism economy entirely back to full strength, we’re encouraged by this study and are excited about the promising days ahead.”
Tourism Economics’ study also showed tourism supported 12,310 jobs – or approximately 9% of Warren County’s private workforce – in 2021, making the county known as “Ohio’s Largest Playground“ the second-most tourism-dependent county in Southwest Ohio. Those 12,000+ tourism-related jobs accounted for $346 million in wages and generated $199 million in tax revenue for federal, state and local governments.
In all, nearly 12 million people visited Warren County’s various events and attractions in 2021, generating $842 million in direct visitor spending. Top areas of that visitor spending included recreation, retail, transportation, lodging and food & beverage.
Warren County, Ohio, is home to a number of attractions including Kings Island, Great Wolf Lodge, the Western & Southern Open, Miami Valley Gaming, Caesar Creek State Park and the Warren County Sports Park at Union Village (WCSP). While the WCCVB does not release annual attendance figures for specific attractions, the WCSP, which opened in 2020 and is owned and operated by the WCCVB, hosted 52 events in 2021, drawing nearly 700,000 people and generating 70,000 room nights in local hotels.
About the Warren County Convention & Visitors Bureau
Warren County is Ohio’s Largest Playground®! With easy access from Interstates 71 and 75, visitors to Warren County can enjoy more activities within a 30-mile radius than anywhere else in Ohio. The Warren County Convention & Visitors Bureau is a professional destination marketing and management organization whose mission is to strengthen the community by advancing economic growth and vitality through tourism and overnight stays by encouraging significant participation by visitors in the local tourism economy. Tourism is the leading industry in Warren County. Nearly 12 million yearly visitors drive an economic impact of $1.45 billion and 12,310 tourism-related jobs. For additional information, visit OhiosLargestPlayground.com or call 513-204-1900.