COLUMBUS, Ohio—The impact the local travel economy has on Columbus and Franklin County was the focus of Experience Columbus’ annual TourismUS event. Hundreds of travel and tourism industry professionals, Central Ohio business owners, community leaders and elected officials attended the event, which was held May 8, 2025, at the Columbus Museum of Art and coincided with U.S. Travel Association’s National Travel and Tourism Week. 
 
During the meeting, the destination marketing organization for the Columbus region announced new visitation data. According to Longwoods International, visitors made 53.2 million trips to Greater Columbus in 2024—a 2 million increase from the previous year. Day trips comprised 79% of the total number of trips, and 21% were overnight trips.* The number of overnight trips—11.1 million in 2024—increased by 7.3% year over year. 

“2024 was a huge year for Columbus’ travel economy, with events like the total solar eclipse and MLS All-Star Game driving visitation April through July,” said Brian Ross, ECI, President and CEO of Experience Columbus. “Whether a visitor is here on a summer vacation, exploring with family and friends, attending a convention or rooting for their favorite team, each visit matters as it brings new money into our community that stays here. The impact of visitors is profound, as they directly spend $8.2 billion at local businesses and support one in every 13 jobs in Columbus and Franklin County.”  

Additional findings from Longwoods International about overnight visitors to Columbus include: 

  • 81% are repeat travelers to Columbus.  
  • The main purpose of overnight trips are: visiting friends and relatives (53%), attending a special event (13%), city trip (8%), other business trip (6%), outdoors (4%), touring (4%), conference/convention (3%) and business-leisure (3%).
  • The top five states visitors are traveling to Columbus from for overnight trips are: Ohio, Michigan, Texas, Pennsylvania and New York.
  • The most popular time to visit Columbus is July through September (28%) followed by April through June (26%), October through December (24%) then January through March (22%).
  • The top 10 activities and experiences visitors on overnight trips are doing while in Columbus are shopping (25%), attending a celebration (18%), sightseeing (17%), going to a bar/nightclub (14%), going to local parks/playgrounds (13%), visiting a museum (12%), going to a casino (10%), attending a business meeting (9%), visiting a landmark/historic site (9%), and going to the zoo (9%).
  • The average number of nights spent in Columbus on overnight trips is 2.8.  
  • The average age of overnight visitors to Columbus is 45.  

 

The other major highlight of the program was the presentation of the 2024 Best of US Awards. Now in its second year, the awards program recognizes the stars of the hospitality industry who have helped champion travel and tourism in Central Ohio during the past year. The following organizations, attractions and individuals were recognized as this year’s honorees:  

  • Trailblazer of the Year Award: Small Business Category: Short North Alliance
  • Trailblazer of the Year Award: Corporate Businesses & Attractions Category: COSI  
  • Tourism Champion: Small Business Category: Cobra 
  • Tourism Champion: Corporate Businesses & Attractions Category: Columbus Metropolitan Library 
  • Experience Columbus Insider of the Year: Jodi Ransom 

 

To learn more about TourismUS and to read Experience Columbus’ 2024 Annual Report, visit www.ExperienceColumbus.com/TourismUS. 
 
About Experience Columbus 
Experience Columbus is the destination marketing organization for the Columbus region dedicated to growing visitor spending and enhancing the visitor experience. Annually, visitors make 53.2 million trips to Greater Columbus for conventions, trade shows, sporting events and leisure visits, spending $8.2 billion and supporting more than 82,500 jobs. For more information, visit ExperienceColumbus.com.  
 
*Longwoods International defines an overnight visitor as a person on any journey for business or pleasure, coming from outside the community on a trip that is not part of their normal routine and where they spend one or more nights away from home. A day trip visitor is defined as a person on any journey for business or pleasure outside of their normal routine that is not an overnight trip. Day trips involve travel of more than 50 miles from Columbus. 

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Media Contacts:  
Leah Berger, APR, ECI: lberger@experiencecolumbus.com | 614-222-6145 
Cameron Tirado, ECI: ctirado@experiencecolumbus.com | 610-389-6833