For Destination Door County’s Julie Gilbert and Jon Jarosh, the impact of tourism extends far beyond the visitors strolling sidewalks, checking into hotels, and exploring local parks. According to Destination Door County, Door County’s visitor economy generates around $500 million in direct spending each year. The dollars spent in the area do more than support the 3,400 hospitality and tourism-related jobs in Door County—they also sustain thousands of small businesses. Thirty percent of the Door County room tax goes back to area municipalities, amounting to $3.6 million in 2024. A portion of the room tax has also gone to fund Destination Door County’s Community Investment Fund, which has supported 44 projects over the last two years for $2.2 million. Gilbert says it has been a crucial focus of Destination Door County to keep the area’s economic and environmental sustainability in mind while helping visitors make memories while they are here.
May 4th-10th is National Travel and Tourism Week, during which the industry celebrates its economic impact. According to the World Travel and Tourism Council, the U.S. tourism industry was worth $2.36 trillion in 2023, supporting more than 18 million jobs. Destination Door County will celebrate National Travel and Tourism Week with its annual breakfast on May 6th. You can listen to our full interview here.
