News Summary
Cleveland has reached a historic milestone in visitor spending, totaling $6.9 billion, reflecting a 4% increase from the previous year. The tourism sector’s growth was fueled by 18.6 million visits, generating significant tax revenue for Cuyahoga County. Business visits rose by 7%, with key events such as the solar eclipse and NCAA Women’s Final Four further boosting the economy. The total economic impact of tourism exceeded $11.4 billion, showcasing its vital role in local job creation and economic health.
Cleveland set a remarkable milestone in 2024, achieving record direct visitor spending of $6.9 billion, marking a 4% increase from the previous year. This significant boost outpaced inflation by 1.3%, underscoring the robust growth of the tourism sector in the region.
The impressive figures were generated through 18.6 million leisure and business visits, reflecting a 1.5% uptick from 2023. In addition to direct spending, visitors contributed a substantial $1.6 billion in tax revenue, which translates to approximately $1,460 in tax savings for each household in Cuyahoga County.
Overall, the economic impact of travel and tourism in Cuyahoga County surpassed $11.4 billion in 2024, highlighting the sector’s importance in driving local economic growth. Visitor spending has soared nearly 40% over the past decade, significantly surpassing inflation rates, which stood at 36.3%.
Growth in Business and Leisure Visits
Business visits contributed notably to this year’s tourism boom, with a growth of 7% reported in 2024. A total of over 300 meetings and conventions were successfully booked, drawing in more than 208,000 attendees and generating close to $200 million for the local economy.
Of the total visitor volume, day visitors accounted for 58%, while overnight visitors made up 42%. The number of day visitors grew by 1.4%, and overnight visitor volumes increased by 1.7% compared to the previous year.
Job Creation and Economic Impact
The booming visitor economy directly supported approximately 70,200 local jobs, with over 20,000 in the food and beverage sector alone. Workers engaged in tourism-related jobs earned $3.8 billion in income, reflecting a 3.8% increase from 2023. This rise in income demonstrates the sector’s strength in sustaining local employment.
Key Events Boosting Tourism
Several significant events in 2024 played pivotal roles in enhancing tourism, most notably the total solar eclipse, which brought in an estimated economic boost of $24.6 million, and the NCAA Women’s Final Four, contributing $32.9 million to the city’s economy.
Future Prospects and Continued Investment
Cleveland’s outlook for tourism remains bright, underscored by nearly $5 billion in planned or ongoing investments along the waterfront areas. These developments are seen as crucial for sustaining future growth and enhancing the city’s appeal as a must-visit destination.
The growing tourism sector is not only pivotal for the city’s economic health but also plays a significant role in improving Cleveland’s overall image. Continued focus on attracting new residents and businesses, as well as diversifying the economy for the long term, is vital for the region’s sustained success.
As 2024 closes, it is clear that Cleveland’s visitor economy stands as a key driver of local prosperity and job creation, solidifying its position as a notable player in the tourism industry.
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Additional Resources
- Spectrum News 1: Cuyahoga County Visitor Spending 2024
- Wikipedia: Main Page
- News 5 Cleveland: Visitor Spending in Cuyahoga County
- Google Search: Cuyahoga County tourism 2024
- Crain’s Cleveland: Tourism Generated $7 Billion Cuyahoga County 2024
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Cleveland tourism
- Fox8: Destination Cleveland New Record for Tourism Spending
- Google News: Cleveland tourism 2024
Author: STAFF HERE CLEVELAND WRITER
CLEVELAND STAFF WRITER The CLEVELAND STAFF WRITER represents the seasoned team at HERECleveland.com, your premier source for actionable local news and information in Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, and beyond, delivering "news you can use" with in-depth coverage of product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news impacting the region—backed by years of expert reporting and robust community input, including local press releases and business updates, while providing top reporting on high-profile events like the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductions, Cleveland International Film Festival, and holiday parades, alongside key organizations such as the Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland Orchestra, and Great Lakes Science Center, plus leading businesses in manufacturing and healthcare like Sherwin-Williams and University Hospitals, and as part of the broader HERE network including HEREDayton.com, offering comprehensive, credible insights into Ohio's vibrant landscape. HERE Cleveland HERE Dayton
