Visitor spending in Nebraska increased in 2019

PRESS RELEASE

FOR INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Erin Lenz at 402-326-9941 or [email protected]
Jenn Gjerde at 402-525-4455 or [email protected]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LINCOLN, Neb. (May 7, 2020) - Nebraska Tourism is excited to announce that traveler spending in the state totaled $3.5 billion in 2019, a 4.6 percent increase over 2018, according to a new study by Dean Runyan Associates.

“It’s nice to see some positive news about our visitor expenditures during this time filled with a lot of uncertainty,” said John Ricks, Nebraska Tourism executive director. “Last year was the first year our ‘Honestly, it’s not for everyone’ campaign was in-market so this is evidence that the campaign is doing what it’s supposed to – bring people to Nebraska and play an ever-increasing role as a key driver of our economy.”

This is the second time ever that Nebraska has outpaced the national average growth rate. In 2019, the national average growth rate was 4.3 percent, compared to Nebraska’s 4.6 percent.

Tourism in Nebraska is a key driver of the state’s economy. In 2019, direct travel spending in Nebraska generated $248 million in state and local tax revenue and generated 40,400 jobs with earnings of $770 million. There were also an estimated 6.5 million overnight person-trips in the state.

A detailed report broken down by county will be available this fall. For more information on the previous year’s economic impact results, view the interactive dashboard here: https://visitnebraska.com/nebraska-economic-impact-report-dashboard

For more information about travel, events and unique destinations in Nebraska, order your free travel guide today at VisitNebraska.com. Then stay connected with Nebraska Tourism on our Visit Nebraska Facebook page, on Twitter, on Pinterest, on Instagram and on YouTube.
 
The mission of the Nebraska Tourism Commission is to expand Nebraska’s dynamic and diverse travel industry making it more viable by creating awareness, attracting increased visitors which results in greater tourism revenue and economic gain throughout the state. To learn more, go to VisitNebraska.com.

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