Industry generates $8 billion in 2015.
Good News for Tourism Businesses in Iowa
Iowa’s tourism industry generated more than $8 billion during 2015, according to a new study from the U.S. Travel
Association. That’s a slight increase from 2014.
“Lower gas prices in 2015 helped draw in more travelers
who significantly increased their spending on lodging, restaurants, shopping,
and entertainment,” Shawna Lode, manager of the Iowa Tourism Office, said in a statement.
“We also saw user sessions on traveliowa.com set a record
at almost 1.3 million. Requests for our travel guide were up almost 20 percent.
Both of those are good indicators of people making plans to travel Iowa,” Lode
said.
Polk County led the state, with travelers spending $1.9
billion there in 2015. Following Polk were Linn, Scott, Johnson, and Black Hawk
counties. In all, 15 of Iowa’s 99 counties received over $100 million each from
tourism in 2015, according to the report.
The study also found that tourism in Iowa supported 67,400
jobs and generated more than $466 million in state tax receipts in 2015.
