Cleveland tourism continued post-pandemic rebound in 2023
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Northeast Ohio saw 18.34 million visitors in 2023, continuing a gradual upward trend since the pandemic kneecapped the travel and tourism industry in 2020.
Context: The area's 2.2% year-over-year visitor increase mirrors the state's growth and reflects a return, Destination Cleveland says, to "sustainable pre-pandemic growth."
By the numbers: After years of steady growth since Destination Cleveland launched its local visitor brand in 2014, tourist figures peaked at 19.6 million in 2019, then declined sharply to 13.8 million in 2020.
- Visitors spent $6.7 billion in the region last year.
- The tourism industry supports more than 68,000 local jobs, 7% of the regional economy.
What we're watching: We'll have to wait for the official 2024 numbers, but the NCAA Women's Final Four, the Solar Eclipse and the Rock Hall induction ceremony in November point to continued growth this year.