THEY'RE HERE TO HEAR. The Chippewa Valley's numerous music festivals, such as Blue Ox (shown above), are among the many draws for visitors to the area.

Tourism boosted the Eau Claire County economy by nearly half a billion dollars last year, according to figures released Tuesday, June 11, by the Wisconsin Department of Tourism.

The state agency estimated the total economic impact of tourism in Eau Claire County was $459 million in 2023. That was a a record-breaking total for the second consecutive year, said Visit Eau Claire, the area’s tourism marketing agency. The 2023 total was a 5.6% increase from the $434 million figure in 2022 – which itself was a 14% jump from 2021.

In addition, the state Department of Tourism estimated that direct visitor spending in the county was $284.5 million last year, and that tourism supported 3,893 jobs in Eau Claire County.

The bottom line on these bottom lines: Direct spending by visitors – as well as the additional economic activity, salaries, and state and local taxes generated by this spending – is vital to the Chippewa Valley’s overall economy.

Considering the trajectory of the local tourism economy, the figures weren’t exactly a surprise, said Kenzi Havlicek, interim executive director at Visit Eau Claire. “National research shows that people are more motivated than ever to travel, and based on the positive reports we saw from our hotel and events partners, we anticipated even more growth in our region for 2023,” she said.

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The Eau Claire area, with its unique blend of outdoor beauty, fun attractions, and vibrant community events, is an ideal destination for travelers seeking memorable experiences.

KENZI HAVLICEK

VISIT EAU CLAIRE

Numerous factors drive growth in the Valley’s tourism scene, Havlicek added. “The Eau Claire area, with its unique blend of outdoor beauty, fun attractions, and vibrant community events, is an ideal destination for travelers seeking memorable experiences,” she said. “Our team has worked diligently to promote the area, and the community has been incredibly supportive in creating an inviting atmosphere for visitors. The combination of these factors made 2023 a standout year, and we look forward to continuing this positive momentum in the future.” 

Statewide, the tourism industry’s economic impact cracked $25 billion for the first time last year, a 5.4% increase from the previous year.

“Wisconsin tourism powers the economy and strengthens the fabric of communities of all sizes,” Wisconsin Tourism Secretary Anne Sayers said in a media release. “The historic impact of tourism reached every corner of Wisconsin and, in doing so, sustained livelihoods for thousands of our friends and neighbors.”

The tourism economy showed growth in the broader region last year as well, with total economic impact rising to $184 million in Chippewa County and $101 million in Dunn County. According to state estimates, between Eau Claire, Chippewa, and Dunn counties, tourism supported a total of more than 6,000 jobs and nearly $49 million in state and local tax revenue.

Learn more about Visit Eau Claire at visiteauclaire.com. For a deeper dive into the statewide numbers, visit the Department of Tourism’s website at industry.travelwisconsin.com/research/economic-impact.