Stats show tourism's impact on local economy

The city of Springfield is in good standing in the nation as a tourism and travel destination

The No. 1 Springfield in the nation

Meeting facilities, easy access, top-notch attractions and a friendly, clean environment make Springfield a natural to attract visitors.

This fact proves itself in statistics that show Springfield has more overnight visitors than any other Springfield in the nation, according to D. K. Shifflet and Associates, a nationally recognized travel-research firm.

The Shifflet study reported that of all United States cities and destinations, Springfield ranks 108th in overnight travel with about 2.2 million overnight visitors annually.

Direct spending is estimated at $526.2 million in the Springfield metropolitan area alone.

Dollars spent by travelers circulate through the community, directly affecting the area's overall economic climate.

According to the Shifflet study (based on data from 1995 to 1998), the average visitor to Springfield is 41.7 years old, a leisure traveler (75.7 percent), stays 2.4 nights, travels by automobile (89.5 percent drive vs. 3.1 percent who travel by air), stays in a hotel/motel (49.6 percent), attends or attended college, holds a technical/sales or managerial/professional position, is married and traveling with a family, makes a combined average annual household income of about $49,300, and comes from a Midwestern state.

Missouri tourism increasing

Statistics recently released by the Missouri Division of Tourism indicate that Springfield is in good standing when compared with other Missouri destinations. St. Louis generates the majority of tax dollars from tourism, followed by Branson, Kansas City, and Springfield.

The same study reported that Missouri tourism showed strong increases in tax revenues, jobs and visitors for fiscal year 1999:

Direct tourism and travel expenditures in the state accounted for $5.6 billion (up 6.2 percent compared to fiscal year 1998), created 206,796 tourism industry-related jobs (up 3.8 percent) and generated $574.5 million in state tax revenues (an increase of 8.7 percent).

More than 34.4 million people visited Missouri in fiscal year 1999, generating more than $12.6 billion for the state's economy.

Statewide, tax revenues from tourism increased by 10.4 percent between 1998 and 2000.

The number of Missourians employed because of tourism expenditures has increased by 2.5 percent between 1998 and 2000.

The majority of visitors in 1999 came to visit friends and relatives (40 percent), followed by those attracted here by entertainment (about 18 percent) and business (about 12 percent).

The most popular vacation activities statewide are shopping (nearly 30 percent), with a tie between history and museums, the outdoors and theme parks (12 percent).

About 70 percent of all U.S. visitors, to Missouri originate from out-of-state bringing outside dollars in. The majority of visitors come from Illinois, Kansas, Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma and California, in that order.

Looking to the future

Springfield's travel future is bright. Jordan Valley Park and the venues that call it home will make the area even more attractive to both groups and leisure travelers. A civic center and sports arena, a full-service exposition center, ice skating rinks and the proposed minor league ballpark will offer activities for folks of all ages and interests.

The coming Wonders of Wildlife museum and aquarium, now under construction, has already helped to draw attention to Springfield.

(Kristin Kubitschek is public relations manager for the Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau.)