Tourism visits, spending in Ohio rose

Jobs and revenue tied to tourism increased in Ohio last year for the seventh consecutive year, according to data released Wednesday by TourismOhio.

The state tourism agency said direct visitor spending in 2016 was an estimated $34 billion, a $1 billion increase over 2015.

Indirect spending boosted that number to $43 billion, also up $1 billion from the previous year. That number includes spending by businesses that is needed to serve visitors.

The number of tourism visits to Ohio reached 212 million, up from 207 million in 2015. Of those, nearly 42 million were overnight trips. Overnight visitors on average spend triple the amount that day visitors do, $360 versus $111.

In making the announcement, David Goodman, director of the Ohio Development Services Agency, called tourism “a job creator and economic catalyst” for Ohio communities that benefits all businesses, not just those in the tourism sector. Tourismrelated jobs last year increased to 427,000 statewide, up from 420,000 in 2015.

Data is not broken out by region. According to the latest information released by Experience Columbus in August, central Ohio welcomed 39.3 million day and overnight visitors, who spent $6.4 billion, in 2015.

TourismOhio director Mary Cusick said early research has found increases in awareness of Ohio’s tourism offerings based on the “Ohio, Find It Here” campaign launched a year ago. She said the agency’s increased budget of $5.2 million for paid advertising this calendar year will allow it to continue running TV commercials year-round, including a new fall-season one set to debut in August.