Another record-breaking year for tourism means local residents and businesses benefit. Research by Tourism Economics, an Oxford Economics Company, shows 14.2 million people visited Omaha in 2023—700,000 more than the year prior. Visitors spent more than $1.5 billion while they were in the city in 2023, a 7% increase over the year prior. Here’s where they spent that money:
Tourism also supported 15,823 jobs for our friends, families, and neighbors in 2023, a 4% increase since 2022. However, while all other visitor data surpassed pre-pandemic numbers in 2022, this is one statistic that has lagged behind. The local tourism community continues to face staffing shortages, an industry trend felt nationwide.
Overall, the steady rise in visitation and visitor spending is a testament to Omaha’s appeal as a growing tourism destination. As we head into 2025, the city is poised to continue that growth with the expansion of the airport, new and improved sporting venues such as Tranquility Park and Levi Carter Park, the planned downtown soccer stadium, and more than $8 billion in development throughout the city. Investments like these continue to inspire increased visitation and make Omaha’s tourism industry a billion-dollar-plus baby.
Find more information about tourism’s positive impact on Omaha at https://www.visitomaha.com/wtll.
Deborah Ward is the executive director of Omaha Convention and Visitors Bureau.
This article originally appeared in the December 2024/January 2025 issue of B2B Magazine. To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe.
