State tourism spending outpaces national average

The latest data from the Travel Recovery Insights Report released by the U.S. Travel Association shows that travel spending in Wisconsin in the past 24 months has outpaced the national average. A release from Gov. Tony Evers’ office stated that in February 2022, tourism spending in Wisconsin was down 1% compared to 2019, while the national average was down 6%. Wisconsin also fared better against states with higher travel activity such as Texas (down 4%), North Carolina (down 4%), Hawaii (down 9%), California (down 12%), and New York (down 18%). Wisconsin’s tourism industry sustained $17.3 billion in sales in 2020, supporting more than 157,000 jobs.