Cleveland tourism spending reaches new high

By the numbers: Cuyahoga County welcomed 18.9 million visits in 2025, a 1.7% increase over 2024 — both the national growth rate of 1.5% and Ohio's visitation growth of 1.2% during the same period.

• Visitor spending generated an estimated $11.4 billion in total economic impact for Northeast Ohio, while the local tourism industry supported more than 70,000 local jobs.

The big picture: Tourism has grown for five consecutive years, with Cuyahoga County outperforming state or national visitation growth in 11 of the past 12 years, excluding pandemic-affected 2020.

What they're saying: David Gilbert, president and CEO of Destination Cleveland, believes the region is positioning itself for another tourism boom, fueled by waterfront investments, new professional sports teams, an upcoming Browns domed stadium and Cleveland Hopkins International Airport upgrades.

• "While we can't predict exactly what will produce the next shift, it is likely to result from the compounding effect of significant destination developments," Gilbert says, "coupled with perception change from national or global events and sustained brand marketing."