More visitors are coming to Columbus and choosing to stay longer, according to the latest tourism data.
Greater Columbus welcomed 41.9 million day and overnight visitors in 2018, an increase of 1.9% or about 800,000 visitors from the previous year. Longwoods International researchers say these visitors stayed for 2.4 nights on average, up from 2.2 in 2017. That’s a key indicator as Experience Columbus officials say an overnight visitor spends three times more money than a single-day visitor.
Of the 9.6 million overnight visitors, 47 percent were here to see friends and relatives, 33 percent were categorized as a leisure visit, which could include a concert, sporting event or festival, 16 percent were on a business trip, and 3 percent had a mix of business and leisure. The average age of visitors last year was between 25 and 54. The annual visitor profile report found that 68 percent were very satisfied with their overall trip experience.
A new economic report will be released next year with an update on visitor spending numbers, jobs and tax benefits data. A 2018 analysis found visitors spent $7 billion in Columbus supporting 78,000 jobs in the region, and generated $1.25 billion in local, state, and federal tax revenue.
