Economic impact study boasts power of tourism

CINCINNATI - A new economic impact study for Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky boasts the power of tourism for the local community.

The study is the first of its kind in the last 10 years and was commissioned by Cincinnati USA . The information is based on data from 2011, and the study included interviews with visitors to Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. 

According to information released early from the report, tourism was a significant contributor to the local economy in the form of visitor spending, job creation and the generation of state and local taxes.

In total, Cincinnati hosted a total of 22.7 million visitors who spent $4.1 billion, up 4.3 percent from 2012.

Cincinnati USA says nearly 94,000 jobs were sustained by visitors in 2011, with a total income of $2.7 billion.

Tourism state and local tax proceeds of $551 million helped offset the average household burden by $644 per household.

About half of all overnight visitors live in the Midwest, and another 27 percent come from the Southern United States. Top states of origin are Ohio (32%), Kentucky (12%), Indiana (9%) and Michigan (7%).

About 85 percent (19 million) of visitors came for leisure, and about half of these visitors came to visit friends and relatives.