Report: Worcester County tourism generated $1.3B in 2023, ranking 5th in Mass.
Photo | TMS Aerial Solutions
Downtown Worcester
Tourism in Worcester County accounted for some of the highest economic impact among Massachusetts' 14 counties in 2023, which combined accumulated $23.6 billion in spending statewide.
Worcester County ranked among the top five counties in the state in regards to both tourist industry earnings and employment, according to research published Wednesday by the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism and primarily conducted by the Oregon-based Dean Runyan Associates.
“Massachusetts’ tourism industry is a critical part of our state’s economy, showcasing our rich history and culture for millions of visitors from across the globe,” Gov. Maura Healey said in the Wednesday press release. “We are thrilled to see that tourism in Massachusetts continues to grow and just reached a five-year high – and we look forward to continuing to build on this momentum as we celebrate Massachusetts 250 over the next couple of years.”
Worcester County generated $1.3 billion in direct visitor spending in 2023, a 0.8% increase from 2022 and a 19.9% increase from 2019. The county’s numbers reflect the fifth highest visitor spending behind $8.5 billion Suffolk County, which encompasses Boston; $3.7 billion in Middlesex County, which includes MetroWest and the Cambridge area; $2.7 billion in Barnstable County, which includes Cape Cod; and $1.4 billion in Norfolk County, which includes much of the area between Boston and Providence, Rhode Island.
Worcester County was a high-ranker in terms of employment coming in fourth of the Massachusetts counties. Worcester County’s tourism industry supported 11,690 jobs in 2023. While this figure reflects a 4.0% increase from 2022, it is a 5.1% decrease from 2019.
For those visitors staying overnight in Worcester County, their average party size was 2.1 people, and the average stay was 1.7 nights, with spending of $616 per party.
“Tourism plays a vital role in our state’s economy, generating thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in spending that supports our small businesses and diverse communities,” Yvonne Hao, Massachusetts economic development secretary, said in the release. “In Massachusetts, we're committed to building on our successes and aim to make our state a top destination for domestic and global visitors.”
Mica Kanner-Mascolo is a staff writer at Worcester Business Journal, who primarily covers the healthcare and diversity, equity, and inclusion industries.
WBJ Web Partners
Most Recent
Most Recent
0 Comments