CLEVELAND — Destination Cleveland, the marketing and management team for Cuyahoga County, said there was a 12% increase from 2021 to 2022 in terms of visitors.

The company said business and leisure travel generated 17.9 million visits to Cuyahoga County last year. The growth outpaced the state's, 6%, and was slightly ahead of the country's domestic visitation growth rate, 11%. 

In 2022, visit volume reached 92% of 2019 levels. 

What You Need To Know

  • The company said business and leisure travel generated 17.9 million visits to Cuyahoga County last year

  • The growth outpaced the state's, 6%, and was slightly ahead of the country's domestic visitation growth rate

  • Tourism Economics, a division of Oxford Economics, data shows both day and overnight visitor volumes grew

  • Over the past 10 years, visitation is up 11%, direct spending is up 31% employment income has grown 61% and taxes generated have increased by 53%

“2022 was a new beginning for the travel and tourism industry – we’re back on track as an industry that infuses money into the economy and contributes to positive perceptions of Cleveland as a place to live and work,” said David Gilbert, president and CEO of Destination Cleveland in a news release. “Destination Cleveland, as the steward of the industry, remains steadfastly committed to leading the industry to its pre-pandemic success levels as quickly as possible. Through collaboration, our visitor economy can and will contribute to the region’s long-term equitable growth.”

Tourism Economics, a division of Oxford Economics, data shows both day and overnight visitor volumes grew. Day visits grew at 12% and overnight visits increased by 11%. Day visitors represented 58% of the total number of visitors to the region and 42% were overnight visitors. 

Over the past 10 years, visitation is up 11%, direct spending is up 31% employment income has grown 61% and taxes generated have increased by 53%.

Within the county, tourism and travel accounted for $6.4 billion in direct sales, contributing to an economic impact of $10.6 billion, a 19% increase in direct spending. The growth represents 101% of 2019 levels and is ahead of the state, 13%, and U.S. domestic, 6%, travel spending increases in 2022. 

For employment income, travel and tourism produced $3.5 billion through about 69,200 jobs in the county, representing one of every 14 jobs in Cuyahoga County. The increase of 5,200 jobs from 2021 shows a rebound, reaching 99% of pre-pandemic employment, 69,500.

Tourism generated $1.5 billion in federal, state and local taxes, creating savings of nearly $1,330 in taxes for each household in the county.

“Visitors continued to help drive the Cleveland economy in 2022, spending $6.4 billion throughout Cuyahoga County and supporting the local community through jobs, wages, and taxes,” said Adam Sacks, president of Tourism Economics. “While growth in the U.S. economy is expected to slow in 2024, the recovery in business activity and sustained strength in leisure travel should allow Cleveland’s visitor economy to continue to grow.”