News Release

ROCHESTER — A new study released by the Indiana Destination Development Corp. shows the Indiana tourism industry’s growth throughout 2023 and its role as a driver of economic vitality and job creation.

“Tourism plays a vital role in Fulton County’s economic success, and this report highlights the significant impact visitors have on our local businesses and workforce,” said Fulton County Tourism Commission President Jillian Smith. “With $20 million in visitor spending and 172 jobs supported, it’s clear that travel and tourism are essential to our community’s growth. We look forward to continuing to promote Fulton County as a must-visit destination for both Hoosiers and travelers from across the country.”

Here are some of the highlights of the overall report for the state:

• Total Indiana visitor volume grew 1.2% in 2023 from 80.8 to 81.7 million person-trips, normalizing growth after two years of strong recovery.
• Visitor spending grew by 7% from $15.1 billion to $16.2 billion, marking a recovery back to pre-pandemic levels of spending.
• Spending per visitor rose to $198.
• Tourism generated $3 billion in federal, state and local taxes, broken down to $1.293 billion from federal, $1.053 billion from state and $693 billion from local.
• Indiana tourism supported 208,500 full and part-time jobs.
• Business and international travel recovery has lagged the broader recovery but growth in both segments excelled in 2023.
• Indiana is on pace with national recovery in tourism GDP and jobs; and Indiana’s domestic and international business spending has recovered faster than the U.S.

“Indiana’s tourism industry has continued to be a powerful engine for our state’s economy, and this report highlights how significant its impact has become,” said IDDC Secretary and CEO Elaine Bedel. “With several metrics reaching pre-pandemic levels, it is clear that tourism is driving growth in communities across the state and we are excited to continue positioning Indiana as a premier destination.”

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