WASHINGTON, D.C.
Travel and hospitality representatives in Washington, D.C., announced that the nation's capital received 20 million domestic visitors in 2016, an increase of 3.4% over 2015 according to a DK SHIFFLET report.
The seventh consecutive record-breaking year for domestic visitation earned a record high visitor spend of $7.3 billion, according to IHS Markit, a year-over-year increase of 3.0%.
According to Destination DC, travel and tourism sustains more than 74,654 jobs in D.C.
The briefing occurred at Destination DC's (DDC) Travel Rally at the National Building Museum. Themed "Faces of Travel," the ninth annual assembly coincided with the U.S. Travel Association's National Travel and Tourism Week (May 7-13, 2017) that champions the impact of the industry on the economy.
"In 2016, Washington, D.C. welcomed 700,000 more domestic visitors than we did in 2015," said Elliott L. Ferguson, president and CEO of DDC, the official destination marketing organization for the District. "These numbers articulate the national appetite for new and enduring tourism inventory in the District.”
2016 marks the second time that visitor spending in Washington, D.C. surpassed $7 billion. Spending on accommodations grew 4.0% over 2015. Retail spending grew 1.6%. Spending on dining was up 2.7%.
In 2017, Washington, D.C. will host 21 citywide conventions with an estimated economic impact of $340 million, including Microsoft, the American College of Cardiology, and for the first time, Otakon. In 2018, the District will host 20 citywide conventions including True Value Company, another first-time group.
