Iowa tourism revenue returns to pre-pandemic form

OTTUMWA, Iowa (KYOU) - The Iowa Tourism Office recently reported that money spent in Iowa from folks out of state totaled to over $6.9 billion in 2022 - $500 million more than in 2019.

The effect is huge, with 68,600 jobs being sustained and a little over $1 billion in local and state taxes being accumulated last year. The result creates a total economic impact of $10.4 billion in the state.

The outcome can also be seen at the county level. In Wapello County, tourism generated $55.7 million in 2022. That is an increase of nearly $4 million since 2021 - giving an economic impact of $85 million in the county and helping sustain over 600 tourism-related jobs.

The high tourism revenues can often be traced to an uptick in high-attendance events. On November 3rd, the Bridge View had two performing acts sell out at their venue.

Laura Carrell, Executive Director of both Meet Ottumwa and the Bridge View Center, says having the recently opened Cobblestone Hotel in close proximity helps with this boom, as it makes for a more desirable destination for traveling acts.

“It {also} means that we’ve been able to promote Ottumwa and Wapello county in such a way that people who now have an opportunity to travel anywhere they want to are choosing to come here.”

Carrell says Wapello County is on pace to have even more visitors this year compared to last year.