“We’re very pleased with these numbers,” said Matt Staugler, executive director of the Darke County Visitors Bureau. “Tourism continues to be a big driver of the economy locally, and these numbers back up those statements. The more effort we put into bringing people to the county to experience our attractions, restaurants, hotels, and events mean more money being spent with local small businesses and more tax revenue for local governments.”
The report indicated 5.8% of private employment in the county is sustained by tourism (over 1,300 jobs), and tourism generated over $1.8 million in local tax revenue. Some of the local industries impacted the most by tourism include retail trade ($15.5 million in direct sales), food & beverage ($13.5 million in direct sales), and recreation & entertainment ($8.5 million). Statewide, Ohio attracted over 219 million visits to the state, and visitor spending rose to $35.2 billion.
“As we continue to see a tightening labor market and an overall robust economy, investing more in destination marketing and branding will not only help to continue the upward momentum of visitor spending, but can also help set Darke County apart in the minds of people who could potentially move to and invest in Darke County,” continued Staugler. “The places that are seeing the most dynamic growth in Ohio are those that have placed the most emphasis on building unique experiences for people to have in their cities and communities.”
The full report can be requested from the Darke County Visitors Bureau by calling the Welcome Center at 937-548-5158, or stopping by in person to pick up a copy. More information on the Bureau can be found at www.visitdarkecounty.org.
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