KALAMAZOO, MI – Kalamazoo County is within the cash.
Spending by guests to Kalamazoo County reached an all-time excessive of $585 million in 2021, and the Southwest area had the quickest progress in customer spending of all areas within the state, in response to customer spending figures from Journey Michigan.
This represents progress of fifty.9% versus 2020, the second-highest progress fee of Michigan’s 83 counties, Uncover Kalamazoo mentioned in a information launch. Solely Lake County in northwest Decrease Michigan noticed bigger progress, up 52.1%.
Customer spending in Kalamazoo County additionally exceeded pre-pandemic ranges, with 2021 figures up 16% in comparison with 2019.
Listed here are the highest 10 Michigan counties for customer spending in 2021, per the MEDC:
- Wayne County: $5.5 billion
- Oakland County: $2.5 billion
- Kent County: $1.5 billion
- Macomb County: $1.1 billion
- Washtenaw County: $687 million
- Kalamazoo County: $585 million
- Genesee County: $511 million
- Emmet County: $494 million
- Grand Traverse County: $493 million
- Ingham County: $433 million
Customer spending is a measure of the financial impression of tourism on native economies. It contains all purchases made by vacationers throughout their visits together with resorts, eating places, retail outlets, sights and different companies that assist the customer expertise.
Customer spending creates job and entrepreneurship alternatives and helps maintain the companies that residents take pleasure in, Uncover Kalamazoo mentioned.
“Uncover Kalamazoo’s major objective popping out of the pandemic was to get again to 2019 customer spending ranges by the top of 2023,” Uncover Kalamazoo President and CEO Jane Ghosh mentioned in a press release. “This report from Journey Michigan reveals that our neighborhood was capable of obtain this objective in just one 12 months which is really exceptional.”
The rise between 2019 and 2021 was among the many state’s finest, mentioned Brad Hershbein, Senior Economist at W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Analysis.
“Of the 18 Michigan counties with at the least $250 million in tourism spending in 2019, Kalamazoo County noticed quicker progress by 2021 than all however one — the summer season trip hub of Petoskey’s Emmet County,” Hershbein mentioned.
The Southwest Michigan area had the quickest progress in customer spending in 2021 of all Michigan areas, with spending up 39.9% versus 2020. Customer spending for the state of Michigan as entire grew by 27.6% in 2021, however was nonetheless 8.6% under 2019 ranges.
“This comparatively robust demand in Kalamazoo County implies extra job creation, not simply in tourism jobs, however in downstream industries, as effectively,” Hershbein mentioned.
The numbers are showcasing Uncover Kalamazoo’s efforts to attract guests, mentioned Kalamazoo County Administrator and Controller Kevin Catlin.
“Kalamazoo County has a lot to supply guests, with world-class sights, award-winning eating places, distinctive outlets and ample out of doors actions,” Catlin mentioned.
Statewide, journey confidence rebounded with easing restrictions and obtainable vaccines in 2021, in response to the Financial Influence of Tourism in Michigan report ready by Tourism Economics for the Michigan Financial Improvement Company.
Right here’s a breakdown of Kalamazoo County’s 2021 customer spending by class, per the MEDC:
- Meals and beverage: $164.0 million
- Lodging: $128.7 million
- Retail: $113.4 million
- Transportation: $96.6 million
- Recreation: $82.2 million
Tourism immediately helps 6,350 jobs in Kalamazoo County and not directly helps 9,663 jobs, representing about 8.4% of the county’s total employment.
Learn extra:
Kalamazoo Colleges board works on listening expertise amid latest district turmoil
KVCC, WMU signal settlement to create smoother transition for college kids
Supply By https://www.mlive.com/information/kalamazoo/2023/01/kalamazoo-county-visitor-spending-hits-all-time-high-of-585-million.html
