Dallas Travel and Tourism Industry Reaches New Heights

DALLAS, Nov. 22, 2024 — The travel and tourism sector in Dallas continues to demonstrate remarkable growth, as highlighted by the latest report from Visit Dallas and Tourism Economics. The 2023 Dallas Tourism Economics Impact study reveals significant increases in visitor spending, economic impact, and job support, underscoring the vital role of tourism in the city's economy.

The tourism industry is one of Dallas' ten largest industries. It supports over 59,000 jobs—six percent of the workforce—and more than $3.1 billion in income. Additionally, visitor spending contributed $626 million in state and local taxes. This revenue reduces the tax burden on Dallas residents, equivalent to an annual savings of $1,203 per household.

Last year, Dallas welcomed more than 27 million visitors – an increase of 4.9 percent from the previous year – resulting in an astounding $6.6 billion in direct spend and $10.5 billion in total economic impact.

Visitor Spending by Sector:

• Lodging: $1.8 billion (28% of total spending)
• Food & Beverage: $1.6 billion (25% of total spending)
• Retail: $1.3 billion (20% of total spending)
• Recreation: $800 million (13% of total spending)
• Transportation: $900 million (14% of total spending

"The sustained growth of our tourism industry is a testament to Dallas' appeal as a vibrant, dynamic destination," said Craig Davis, President and CEO of Visit Dallas. "Our strategic marketing efforts and commitment to excellence in visitor experiences are driving significant economic benefits for our community."

Last year, the Visit Dallas team worked with the community to book over 2.4 million room nights, resulting in over $2 billion in economic impact. Additionally, through destination promotion, Visit Dallas influences $1.5 billion of annual visitor spending, more than 20% of all visitor spending in Dallas.

“While these numbers are impressive, this is the beginning of a new era,” said Davis. “The Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Dallas Master Plan, airport developments, the FIFA World Cup 26™ and projected hotel growth will only increase our industry’s positive impact on our city’s residents.”

The convention center expansion project has garnered much interest from meeting planners and event professionals, as well as increased demand for future bookings. To date, the Visit Dallas sales team has already booked 59 definite conventions after the expansion project is complete, representing $1.56 billion in future economic impact for 2029 and beyond.

Overall, Dallas’ tourism industry remains bright, with visitor volume and spending projected to grow steadily through 2025. Direct visitor spending is forecast to average 4% annual growth, reaching $7.1 billion by 2025.

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About Visit Dallas

Visit Dallas is an independent, not-for-profit sales and marketing organization contracted with the City of Dallas to promote Dallas as a premier business and leisure travel destination. The organization’s collective efforts generate positive economic impact, diverse jobs and state and local tax revenues, benefiting the community and improving the quality of life for all residents.

Media Contact

Zane Harrington
Director of Communications
zane.harrington@visitdallas.com