Visitors center sees $127 million impact from tourism

Columbus tourism officials are touting the benefits that visitors bring to the community, with $226 million in spending in the most recent year tracked.

Visit Columbus recently released the results of the study as part of National Travel and Tourism Week, showing the effects of 2024 tourism by Rockport Analytics Economic Impact Assessment. The survey tracked visitors economic impact.

That $226 million in visitors spending in Bartholomew County, generating $127 million in total economic impact, supported 2,690 local jobs and produced $22.6 million in state and local tax revenue. That would make tourism the sixth-largest industry in the county.

Direct visitor spending in 2024 rose 4.1 percent over 2023, according to the report

The additional tax revenue from visitor spending saves each county household $687 per year in government costs.