Southern Indiana (February 5, 2024) – Visitor spending in Clark and Floyd counties continues to break records, surpassing half a billion dollars as reported in Rockport Analytics newly released “2022 Economic Contribution of Tourism in Clark-Floyd Region” report. Visitors to the two Southern Indiana counties spent $509.1 million on food & beverage, shopping, lodging, transportation, entertainment and recreation – a more than 23% increase in visitor spending from 2021.
As the dollars multiply, so do benefits to local families. For every dollar a visitor spent in Clark and Floyd counties in 2022, 56 cents stayed in the local community. The visitor spending stimulus generated $285 million for the local economy, creating jobs, funding local businesses, and supporting public services, alleviating some of Clark and Floyd residents’ tax burden. Without the infusion of tourism dollars, Clark County and Floyd County households would need to pay an additional $720 per year in taxes to maintain state and local government services. For every tourism dollar spent by visitors in 2022, seven cents went to federal taxes and 11 cents went to state and local taxes. Tax revenue generated by tourism helps fund health care programs, police and fire services, road maintenance, education and more.
Visitor spending also sends a ripple effect through the local economy in the form of indirect and induced impacts, such as wages spent by employees of local tourism businesses. Of overall visitor spending in 2022, $43.4 million went back into the local economy in the form of re-spent wages.
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Job Creation
Tourism industry job creation also saw a jump for the second year in a row. The 2022 report shows tourism is now the 7th largest industry for employment in Clark and Floyd counties, up from 8th in 2021. Tourism accounts for 6% of Clark and Floyd county jobs and increased total employment by over 21% in 2022. Travelers support more than 6,935 jobs, which produced $170.4 million in wages.
The addition of tourism-related businesses across Southern Indiana – restaurants, shops, attractions and events – is driving job creation. This paired with progress on Novaparke, Clarksville South and River Ridge, as well as projects on the horizon for a future Southern Indiana conference center and development of the former Jeffboat site, give Clark and Floyd counties a competitive edge, helping to attract talent and businesses.
To schedule an interview with SoIN Tourism Executive Director Jim Epperson, please contact Communications Manager Anna Rosales-Crone at Anna@GoSoIN.com or 812-282-6692.
Click here to view full report.
About the 2022 Economic Contribution of Tourism in Clark-Floyd Region
Conducted by Rockport Analytics, the 2022 Economic Contribution of Tourism report uses the IMPLAN model (www.implan.com) to measure the direct, indirect, and induced impacts of visitation to the state using data and research collected by nationally recognized tourism research and economic experts. Due to the complexity of the tourism industry, which focuses on visitor spending in multiple categories, 2022 is the most recent and complete set of data on hand.
SoIN Tourism is the official destination marketing organization for Clark and Floyd counties in Southern Indiana, just north of Louisville, Ky. Offering authentic experiences in the Kentuckiana region, SoIN includes historic downtowns in Jeffersonville and New Albany, Clarksville’s retail corridor, as well as the communities of Charlestown, Floyds Knobs, Georgetown, Henryville, Memphis, New Washington, Sellersburg, and Starlight. Visitors who would like more information can visit the destination's website, GoSoIN.com.
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