Jackson County Had the Largest Increase in Direct Vistor Spending in 2014
Tuesday, May 5th, 2015 -- 8:15 AM
-According to 2014 numbers just released from the Wisconsin Department of Tourism and Gov. Scott Walker, Jackson County had the largest percent increase in direct visitor spending last year of any county in the state.Not only did visitor spending increase nearly 12 percent, but total business sales were up nearly 10 percent, also tops in the state. Tourism-related businesses employed 545 people in Jackson County last year, paying more than $9 million wages.
During a press conference Monday, Chris Hardie, Black River Area Chamber of Commerce executive director, said the numbers were good news and evidence that the Black River area economy is growing.
Hardie said visitor spending flows through the local economy, benefitting more than just businesses that cater to tourism. Jackson County tied for second in the state last year with the increase of state and local tax collections related to tourism spending. That money benefits local and state government and is also reinvested in the community.
Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.