By Joseph Slacian
jslacian@thepaperofwabash.com
WABASH COUNTY, Ind. – Wabash County tourism generated more than $9.8 million in total taxes in 2015, up 15.3 percent from 2014.
That’s what a new Economic Impact of Tourism in Wabash County study showed, Christine Flohr, executive director of tourism for Visit Wabash County told Wabash County Commissioners on Monday morning. She also was to appear before the Wabash County Council on Monday night.
The 15.3 percent increase, according to the study is well above the 2.7 percent median increase for other Indiana counties.
Flohr told The Paper of Wabash County that she credits the increase in tourism to “a more focused and collaborative marketing effort.”
“By utilizing analytical data garnered from our website, we know where to target and what campaigns to run to a particular demographic,” she said.”
The study also showed:
— Federal tax collections resulting from tourism in Wabash County included income taxes and social security and totaled $4 million in 2015.
— State & local tax collections totaled $5.9 million, including $2.6 million in sales taxes contributing to state collections and $2.1 million in property taxes supporting the local tax.
— Wabash County’s 2015 Tourism Spend per Capita Ranking is #24 of the 92 counties in the state.
— Visitors spent $14.6 million on shopping, $13.9 million on food & beverages, $5.9 million on entertainment/ recreation and $4.2 million on lodging.
— Of every tourism dollar spent in Wabash County in 2014, 67 cents ‘stayed’ local and led directly to the gross county product of Wabash County.
— Approximately 8 percent of all jobs in Wabash County are supported by tourism.
— Tourism is the 5th largest industry (4th not including government) in Wabash County (by jobs).
— In addition to hotel occupancy levies, Wabash County tourism activity generated $81,000 in Indiana corporate taxes, $382,000 in Indiana personal income tax and $2.1 million in local property taxes during 2015.
— If Wabash County tourism did not exist, each of the 14,084 households in the county would have to pay an additional $416 per year in taxes to maintain current state and local tax levels.
“Studies such as these are an effective way for tourism industry partners to evaluate the value and impact of our efforts toward driving tourism dollars to our county and region,” Flohr said. “This is essentially our report card, if you will; a snapshot reflecting the relevancy and importance of the tourism industry to Wabash County.”
The economic importance of tourists to a community extends well beyond core hospitality and transportation sectors, Flohr said, noting that 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 analytical data garnered from the Economic Impact of Tourism report is critical to measuring the results of the efforts of the Visit Wabash County Board of Directors and staff,” said Flohr. “It serves as assurance to the City of Wabash and to Wabash County government that their return on investment in this organization is evident and improving the economic health and vitality of Wabash County.”
The study was conducted by Rockport Analytics via a co-op program organized by the Indiana Office of Tourism Development. Wabash County was among 19 other counties to utilize the program. The study, which began in 2016, used data collected from the complete 2015 calendar year.