Despite the recession, tourism spending in the Greater Milwaukee area in 2008 surpassed tourism spending in the area in 2007, according to a new report.
Traveler expenditures came to an estimated $2.663 billion for the year (compared to $2.579 billion in 2007), according to The Economic Impact of Expenditures by Travelers on the Greater Milwaukee Area, CalendarYear 2008, an annual tourism economic impact study conducted by Davidson-Peterson, Inc. The study focused on traveler expenditures in Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Washington and Waukesha counties.
The travel industry supported 66,331 full-time equivalent jobs in 2008 (up from 64,854 in 2007), $1.525 billion in wages (up from the $1.474 billion in wages in 2007) and contributed $426 million in local and state taxes (up from $410 million in 2007), according to the report.
The majority of visitor expenditures in the area were divided among shopping, which accounted for approximately one-third ($815 million or 31 percent) of traveler expenses; food ($726 million or 27 percent); and recreational spending ($596 million or 23 percent). The remaining expenditures went to lodging ($316 million or 12 percent) and transportation ($209 million or 8 percent).
In 2008, VISIT Milwaukee booked 169 conventions that brought in more than 300,000 attendees. About 26 percent of the $2.7 billion came from meetings and convention.
"In many ways, 2008 was a banner year for tourism thanks in part to several key additions to our visitor amenities, including the Potawatomi Bingo Casino expansion, the opening of the Harley-Davidson Museum and the Iron Horse Hotel; plus special one-time events such as the Harley-Davidson 105th anniversary celebration and the commissioning of the USS Freedom on the lakefront," said Doug Neilson, president and CEO of VISIT Milwaukee. "We expect that 2009, thanks largely to the recession, will present challenges as consumers tighten their belts and carefully scrutinize all discretionary expenditures, including travel. However, we feel that Milwaukee, positioned as a value destination, should be able to ride out the economic downturn and then be able to capitalize during the recovery."
Report: Region's tourism spending up in 2008
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