News Release

INDIANAPOLIS — A new study released by Lieutenant Governor Suzanne Crouch with the Indiana Destination Development Corporation shows the Indiana tourism industry’s rebound fueling is a stronger economy.

“Following the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic aftermath, we have seen Indiana’s economy show great, especially when we look at it through the lens of tourism,” said Lt. Gov. Crouch, Indiana’s Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development. “This research shows a promising future for Indiana’s tourism industry after rebounding tremendously following the pandemic.”

Here are some of the highlights of the report:

• Total Indiana visitor volume grew 16% in 2021 to 77.3 million person trips;
• Overnight leisure travel grew by 36% over 2020;
• Visitor spending grew by 28.4% to $13B;
• Spending per visitor rose to $170;
• Visitor spending added $8.5B to the state’s gross domestic product;
• Out of each dollar spent, $0.65 stays in Indiana;
• Tourism generated $1.4B in state and local taxes;
• Indiana tourism supported nearly 180,000 full-time jobs; and
• Hoosier households spend an average of $526 in state and local taxes as a direct impact of tourism.

“The tourism industry in Indiana has continued to develop a very strong foundation for Hoosiers,” said IDDC Secretary and CEO Elaine Bedel. “Using this research, we can get a good idea of where we are heading in the years to come, and the future looks bright for Indiana tourism.”

The study was commissioned by the IDDC and conducted by Rockport Analytics, an independent market research and consulting company specializing in economic impact and feasibility studies for the travel, tourism and hospitality industry. The methodology employed by this study is in accordance with industry best practices and aligns economic impact data at the state and local level with rigorous methodological standards that are recognized as the highest in the industry.

The study used data on Indiana visitor spending derived form multiple sources including Longwoods International, Reach Market Planning and the U.S. Commerce Department’s National Travel & Tourism Office. It was then reconciled with Bureau of Labor Statistics reported employment data, Indiana Department of Revenue reported tax receipts and secondary sources such as Smith Travel Research.

A link to the report can be found at visitindiana.com.