Wednesday, May 22, 2024 Ohio celebrates tourism success with record-breaking $56 billion impact, 238 million visitors, and 436,000 jobs. Discover the latest events and attractions for 2024! On Tuesday, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Development Director Lydia Mihalik gathered with nearly 120 travel and tourism industry partners on the Ohio Statehouse lawn to celebrate the ongoing success of Ohio’s tourism sector. Tourism in Ohio has reached unprecedented heights, with an annual economic impact exceeding $56 billion, breaking all previous records.
In 2023, Ohio saw 238 million visitors, a 5 million increase from 2022. Overnight visits reached 48 million, with 84 percent of these visitors expressing a strong likelihood to return within the next year. Visitor activity generated $4.
6 billion in state and local tax revenues. The tourism industry supports over 436,000 jobs in Ohio, spanning sectors such as food and beverage, recreation and entertainment, retail, trade, and lodging. Since the onset of the DeWine-Husted Administration, Ohio’s tourism industry has seen remarkable growth.
Total visitor spending surged from $48 billion in 2019 to $56 billion in 2023, marking an increase of more than 16 percent. At the Tourism Day event, visitors were encouraged to plan their next Ohio adventure with the help of travel and tourism representatives from all five regions of the state. Attendees explored Ohio’s unique destinations, sampled local products, took photos .
