WABASH COUNTY, Ind. – The study was conducted by Rockport Analytics via a co-op program organized by the Indiana Office of Tourism Development. Wabash County was among 17 other counties to utilize the program. The study is composed of data collected from the previously completed calendar year.
“Tourism continues to be a large economic driver in Wabash County,” said Howard Kaler, general manager of Charley Creek Inn and 2017 Board President for Visit Wabash County, “Having quantifiable results of Visit Wabash County’s efforts reiterates how much impact tourism has on the economic health and vitality of our county.”
The economic importance of tourists to a community extends well beyond core hospitality and transportation sectors. Tourism Economics offers a solution to the efforts of destination marketing organizations, such as Visit Wabash County, and to industry associations that marries rigorous methodology and compelling communication to raise the profile of tourism as an economic engine.
The report concluded the following 2016 Wabash County Tourism Highlights:
• Spending by Visitors to Wabash County totaled $51 million in 2016, up 2.2% over 2015.
• Visitors spent $4.75 million on lodging, $14.1 million on food & beverages, $15.75 million on retail, $6 million on entertainment and recreation, and $10.9 million on transportation.
• The economic impact of these expenditures totaled $51 million.
• Of every tourism dollar spend in Wabash County in 2016, $.67 ‘stayed’ local with $34.4 Million directly impacting the gross county product of Wabash County.
• Visitor Spending in Wabash County supported 968 jobs and $19.5 million in labor income. Tourism is the 5th largest industry (4th not including Government) in Wabash County (by jobs).
• Tourism-Initiated Tax Revenue generated $4.1 million in Federal tax collections, $6.1 million in State & local taxes including $2.7 million in sales taxes and $2.2 million in property taxes supporting the local tax base.
• If Wabash County tourism did not exist, each of the 14,070 households in the county would have to pay an additional $430 per year in taxes to maintain current state & local tax levels.
• Approximately 7.5% of all jobs in Wabash County are supported by tourism to the region. In addition to the hotel and restaurant industry, tourism directly supports jobs in retail trade, transportation, and the arts.
“The study revealed that tourism is the 5th largest industry in Wabash County (by jobs),” shared Christine Flohr, executive director of tourism for Visit Wabash County, “It is important for key decision-makers and residents to understand the significant impact that tourism has and how it directly affects the quality of place and growth of Wabash County.”
Visit Wabash County is funded in-part through the State-mandated Inn Keepers Tax that is paid by those utilizing overnight facilities and through the receipt of CEDIT Funds distributed by the Wabash County Commissioners and the City of Wabash.
For more information regarding the Tourism Economic Impact Analysis or Visit Wabash County please contact Christine Flohr at 260-563-7171 or via email at Christine@visitwabashcounty.com.