Columbus' tourism bureau says 39.3 million visitors spent a day or more in the city last year, resulting in an overall economic impact of 9.7 billion dollars. Experience Columbus spokesperson Megumi Robinson says visitors generated more than a billion dollars in local, state and federal tax revenue.
Robinson says the number of jobs supported by tourism rose to 75 thousand last year, and the city's hotel-motel tax generated a record 42.6 million dollars.
mr-2.mp3
Robinson expects lower visitor numbers for 2016 due to the expansion and renovation of the Greater Columbus Convention Center. The city and Franklin County have been spending taxpayer dollars to boost local tourism.
