Data shows robust boom in Milwaukee tourism

Published on : Saturday, May 5, 2018

Visitors to Milwaukee – which is the state’s largest tourism market, drawing one-fifth of Wisconsin’s tourism impact – spent $2 billion, which is 3.1 per cent more than the previous year.
The numbers have been provided by the annual study, “The Economic Impact of Tourism in Wisconsin,” which the state commissions Tourism Economics to compile each May while celebrating the National Travel and Tourism Week.

The report also estimated that total tourism-related business sales were estimated to be $3.5 billion, up 3.2 percent from 2016. Tourism in the area helped support 32,150 full-time jobs, accounting for labor income of $1.1 billion – increases of 1 and 1.5 percent, respectively.

Finally, tourism generated $237 million, up 2.5 percent, in state and local taxes.

The numbers for the four-county Greater Milwaukee area are:

• Direct visitor spending in 2017 totaled $3 billion
• Total business sales related to tourism were estimated at $5.4 billion
• Tourism supported 51,200 full-time jobs
• Total labor income from tourism was $1.7 billion
• State and local tax revenue generated by tourism was $360 million
• “These numbers indicate continued strong growth for tourism in downtown Milwaukee and throughout the entire region,” said VISIT Milwaukee President & CEO Paul
• Upchurch in a statement.

“Our community is booming with development, and the completion of projects like the new Bucks Arena, The Hop, and major events like the Harley-Davidson 115th Anniversary celebration will only increase tourism revenue for local businesses for the foreseeable future.”

Tags: Milwaukee tourism