COLUMBUS – Over 40 million people visited central Ohio last year, leaving $7 billion behind in Columbus area cash registers and over $1 billion in government coffers.
The 41.1 million day and overnight visitors to the greater Columbus area in 2017 was 1.2 million – or 3.0 percent — more than in 2016, according to data released Wednesday morning by Experience Columbus and the Greater Columbus Sports Commission.
The sports and arts enthusiasts, convention attendees and business travelers spent 8.83 percent more than they did in 2015, according to data compiled by Oxford Economics and Longwoods International.
The industry sectors benefitting the most from spending by out-of-towners included retail; food and beverage; transportation, attractions, recreation and entertainment; and lodging.
One million more people came to town for the day, a 3.2 percent increase over 2016, while the number of overnight visits grew by 200,000 – a 2.2 percent increase over 2016.
On average, an overnight visitor will spend three times more than a single day visitor.
Employment by businesses serving the visitor industry grew by 3.9 percent to 78,000 jobs in Columbus and Franklin County last year. Tourism supports one in every 12 jobs in Franklin County.
Visitors to Franklin County generated $1.25 billion in local, state and federal tax revenue.