Report: Wisconsin Tourism Up 21% in 2021

July 19, 2022 Last Edit: June 5, 2025

The tourism industry, which is dominated by small businesses, generated $1.4 billion in state and local taxes

Report: Wisconsin Tourism Up 21% in 2021

A recent report released by the Department of Tourism shows the state’s tourism industry had a $20.9 billion economic impact in 2021, an increase of 21% over 2020 but less than the record-setting levels in 2019. Tourism-related businesses accounted for over 169,700 full- and part-time jobs, up 7% over 2020, and Wisconsin hosted over 100 million visitor trips, an increase of 12% over 2020. The tourism industry, which is dominated by small businesses, generated $1.4 billion in state and local taxes, saving $580 for each Wisconsin household which would be necessary to maintain the current level of government services. According to the department, tourism is off to an excellent start in 2022 with strong support from the Travel Wisconsin summer campaign with its biggest spend and deepest reach than any previous campaign in Travel Wisconsin history. Anne Sayers, Department of Tourism Secretary-Designee, said, “Wisconsin’s tourism recovery is something to be proud of. I feel so fortunate to work alongside all of our hospitality partners every day who provide travelers with incredible opportunities to make memories while driving economic impact.”

Topics:

Taxes

State:

Wisconsin

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