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Tourism In Washtenaw County Worth More Than A Billion Dollars

Ann Arbor Area Convention and Visitors Bureau

Nearly 4 million people visited Washtenaw County in 2016, according to data collected for that year by a Michigan-based research and consulting firm.  That translates into $1.1 billion dollars in total economic output and nearly 9,000 jobs.

89.1 WEMU’S Lisa Barry spoke with the marketing director for the Ann Arbor Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, Laura Berarducci, about the economic impact of tourism on the county.

The Ann Arbor Area Convention and Visitors Bureau announced key findings from a 2016 tourism study of Washtenaw County.

There was in increase in total visitors and visitor spending which translates into nearly 9,000 jobs. There’s been a 26% increase in total tourism impact which is worth $1.1 billion to the area economy.

Credit Ann Arbor Area Convention and Visitors Bureau
Laura Berarducci, marketing director of Ann Arbor Area Convention and Visitors Bureau

There was a 28% increase in “net-new” visitor spending, which represents new visitors to the area and is worth $770 million in new spending.

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— Lisa Barry is the host of All Things Considered on WEMU. You can contact Lisa at 734.487.3363, on Twitter @LisaWEMU, or email her at lbarryma@emich.edu

Lisa Barry was a reporter, and host of All Things Considered on 89.1 WEMU.
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