Visitors Spent $358.7 Million In Door County In 2017
Visitor spending in Door County was up $11 million dollars last year according to a report released today by the Wisconsin Department of Tourism. The publication of the state's tourism economic impact report for 2017 coincides with National Travel and Tourism Week, which runs from May 6-12, 2018.
Door County visitors spent $358.7 million in 2017, an increase of 3.14% over the $347.8 million dollars spent by visitors in 2016.
Overall visitor spending in Wisconsin totaled $12.7 billion last year according to the annual economic impact study prepared for the Wisconsin Department of Tourism by Tourism Economics. That’s a statewide increase of 3.2% compared to the $12.3 billion visitors spent in Wisconsin in 2016.
In Door County, the $358.7 million in direct visitor spending last year supported 3,225 jobs and $78.5 million in labor income. Visitor spending also generated $38.5 million in state and local taxes, an increase of $1.1 million, or 2.95%, over 2016. Total business sales from tourism, which includes direct and indirect spending, totaled $456.9 million in 2017, an increase of 3.18% over the previous year.
Jack Moneypenny, President and CEO of the Door County Visitor Bureau (DCVB), said the annual economic impact figures continue to show how vital the travel industry is to the state and to Door County. “We are pleased to see the ninth consecutive year of visitor spending growth in Door County, and along with it, the positive impact these dollars have on our local economy,” Moneypenny said. “Visitor spending has grown by more than $100 million since 2009,” he added, “that’s a significant increase and shows that our collective efforts to promote Door County are having an impact.”
In Door County, the incremental growth in annual tourism spending over the past nine years totals $101.6 million, a 39.5% increase since 2009. Room tax collections increased 52.7% during that same time span, from $3.05 million in 2009 to $4.66 million last year. 2009 is a notable year as it was the first year that all 19 of Door County's municipalities were part of the Door County Tourism Zone.
Door County ranked 7th among the state’s 72 counties in visitor spending last year with Milwaukee County topping the list followed by Dane, Sauk, Waukesha, Brown and Walworth counties.
View or download a two-page fact sheet on the economic impact of tourism in Door County here.
Tourism is the primary economic driver for Door County, and Moneypenny says the DCVB continues to work on new and innovative ways to promote the destination to travelers around the world.
The Door County Visitor Bureau is the official tourism marketing organization for Door County, whose mission is to generate incremental economic impact for the community by attracting visitors with strategies that ensure sustainable tourism.
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