Published: November 14, 2008 03:12 pm            

Marion County tourism did well in ‘07

Tourism expenditures in Marion County went up nearly 7 percent in 2007 over 2006 figures.

According to a study by the Research Department of the Travel Industry Association, based in Washington, D.C., domestic travelers spent nearly $6.3 billion in Iowa in 2007, up 7.6 percent from 2006. The same study also showed that 64,900 jobs in Iowa were generated by domestic traveler expenditures, up 2.2 percent from 2006.

The study was based on the Travel Economic Impact Model, a proprietary economic model developed expressly to indicate the expenditures, employment, payroll and tax revenue generated by travel away from home in the United States. The model was developed in 1975 for the U.S. Department of the Interior to indicate the economic value of travel and tourism to states and counties.

Slightly over 50 percent (50.3) of tourism in Iowa came from people within the state. In 2006, that number was 56.6 percent. The neighboring state which sends the most tourists to Iowa, Illinois, accounted for 10.9 percent of travelers. That figure is down from 14.2 percent in 2006. Domestic tourists spent $38.53 million in Marion County in 2007. Jobs related to this tourism paid 350 workers a total of $5.37 million. Marion County tourism generated $2.05 million in state tax receipts and $310,000 in local tax receipts.

Polk County received nearly $1.5 billion in domestic travel expenditures to lead all 99 Iowa counties. Auto transportation accounted for nearly 39 percent of domestic travel expenditures in the state in 2007 ($2.4 billion). Food service was second with $1.26 billion, or 20 percent. Lodging revenues saw the greatest increase over 2006 (11 percent). Visitors spent $588.1 million on lodging in 2006 and $653.1 million in 2007.

        

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