Warren County Tourism Hits Record Economic Impact
06/27/2016
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Scott Hutchinson, Communications Manager | 513-204-7046 | shutchinson@wccvb.org
Warren County Tourism Hits Record Economic Impact
Warren County, Ohio (June 24, 2016) – Warren County’s tourism economy accounted for a record $1.168 billion in total annual sales in 2015, according to a new study by Tourism Economics and the Ohio Tourism Division. That figure – which represents a two-year growth rate of 9.9 percent from 2013 – was spurred by an influx in visitation, as the county welcomed approximately 11.8 million visitors in 2015, another record high for Warren County tourism.
“Tourism is the number one industry in all of Warren County, and we are thrilled with the steady growth of tourism here,” said Phillip S. Smith, President & CEO of the Warren County Convention & Visitors Bureau (WCCVB). “Visitors spending money on our main streets and in our attractions create and sustain jobs, and maybe most importantly, lower the tax burden for our residents. This study affirms the importance of tourism to our county and our region,” he said.
The study also showed tourism supports 12,244 jobs in Warren County, or one in every nine jobs in the County, and that Warren County is more dependent on tourism for jobs than any other county in Southwest Ohio. Those jobs generated an estimated $276.3 million in wages and $146.5 million in federal, state, and local taxes in 2015.
The top three areas of visitor spending in 2015 were retail ($271.6 million), recreation & entertainment ($206.9 million), and food & beverage ($179.7 million).
The WCCVB’s mission is to generate economic impact for the county by attracting overnight visitors to the area. Overnight travelers typically spend three times more than day visitors. The county has enjoyed strong growth in both the leisure travel segment and sports travel.
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 organization committed to economic growth by increasing overnight and year-round visitors.
Tourism is the leading industry in Warren County. The 11.8 million yearly visitors drive an economic impact of $1.168 billion and 12,244 tourism-related jobs.
For additional information, visit OhiosLargestPlayground.com, call 800-433-1072 or visit the WCCVB on social media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram