October 26, 2015 (Des Moines, Iowa) – The Iowa Tourism Office has released new data showing continued growth in the state’s tourism industry.
In 2014, travel-generated expenditures in Des Moines County totaled $131.99 million, an increase of 5.52 percent over 2013.
Over the past five years, travel-generated expenditures for the entire state of Iowa have increased by an average of 5.94 percent, beating the five year national average of 5.78 percent. According to the study, “The Economic Impact of Travel on Iowa Counties,” travelers spent $8.06 billion in Iowa and generated $374 million in state tax revenues in 2014, both all-time highs.
The report also revealed that more than 66,500 Iowans owe their employment to the tourism industry, a 1.6 percent increase from 2013. Without jobs generated by domestic travel, Iowa’s 2014 unemployment rate of 4.4 percent would have been 8.3 percent. The tourism industry employs 1,030 people in Des Moines County.
The Greater Burlington Partnership’s 2014 Partnering for the Future II campaign set a goal for visitor expenditures in Des Moines County to increase to $650 million over five years. In the first two years of this campaign, visitor expenditures have reached $257.08 million. “These numbers continue to prove that tourism is extremely important to Des Moines County’s economic growth,” states Chelsea Tolle, Executive Director of the Greater Burlington Convention & Visitors Bureau.
“Based on preliminary numbers we’re seeing for this year, we have every reason to believe our growth will continue,” said Shawna Lode, manager of the Iowa Economic Development Authority’s Iowa Tourism Office. “In 2015 we expect about 1.5 million people to visit our website, traveliowa.com, an increase of approximately 40 percent from 2014.”
The entire “The Economic Impact of Travel on Iowa Counties” report is available online in .pdf format and includes state- and county-specific data.
In Des Moines County, travel-generated expenditures in 2014 totaled $131.99 million, employed 1, 030 people and generated $5.23 million in state taxes. Tourism in Iowa generates $8.06 billion in expenditures, employs 66,500 people statewide and generates $374 million in state taxes.
