Meet Ottumwa: Wapello County Visitor Spending Increase in 2023

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Wapello County had a 9.6% increase in visitor spending in 2023, according to Meet Ottumwa.

Wapello County visitors spent approximately $61.1 million in 2023, a 9.6% difference in visitor spending from 2022. This is the third-highest county increase in the state, behind O’Brien and Jefferson counties.

The Iowa Tourism Office says tourism in the state reached $7.3 billion in 2023, a 5.1% increase over 2022. This is the first year Iowa’s travel-generated expenditures have exceeded $7 billion.

Visitors in Wapello County spent the most in transportation on roadways and in the air, totaling $15.91 million. Restaurants, bars, grocery stores, and other food providers accumulated $15.33 million. The Iowa Tourism Office says lodging is included as second home spending and increased to $12.03 million. Retail and recreation spending approximated respectively $10.04 million and $7.8 million.

“It’s so rewarding to see such a substantial jump in visitor spending in Wapello County,” said Laura Carrell, Executive Director of Meet Ottumwa, the convention and visitors bureau for Wapello County.

“It shows us that our local tourism professionals are doing great things to draw people in, and it’s motivation to think creatively and increase those numbers again next year. Wapello County has so much to offer visitors, and it’s great to see the community benefit from the additional economic impact,” Carrell says.

For more information about travel and tourism in Ottumwa and Wapello County, visit the new Meet Ottumwa visitor center at 115 E. Main St. They are open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the new space houses a mini-museum, art gallery, visitor information, an Ottumwa-themed gift shop, and M*A*S*H’s Radar O’Reilly exhibit and photo op.

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