01/07/2026
Indiana’s tourism industry soared past pre-pandemic levels in 2024, creating a major boost for the state’s workforce.
This surge in tourism spending is fueling opportunities across hospitality, travel and service industries, strengthening communities and generating substantial tax revenue for local governments, according to the Indiana Department of Workforce Development.
A report released by Gov. Mike Braun says Indiana welcomed 83 million visitors in 2024, marking a 1.9% increase in tourism from the previous year.
That was accompanied by an uptick in economic activity with total visitor spending reaching $16.9 billion, representing a 4.7% rise over the previous year, marking a full recovery to pre-pandemic levels and reinforcing the strength of the state’s tourism sector.
Visitor spending directly impacts local communities and businesses across Indiana. For every dollar spent by visitors, 65 cents remained within the state’s economy, benefiting a wide range of sectors, including hospitality, retail and transportation.
In addition to creating jobs, tourism generated significant tax revenue for local, state and federal governments. A total of $3.2 billion in tax revenue was generated by tourism activities with $1.4 billion coming from federal taxes, $1.1 billion from state taxes and $740 million from local taxes. These funds help support public services and infrastructure, further driving community development.
One of the standout highlights from the 2024 tourism report was the surge in business travel, which grew by 10%. Both group and transient business segments experienced strong rebounds, reflecting the recovery of the corporate travel market in Indiana. Moreover, international travel to Indiana saw a continued positive trend, increasing by 4.7% compared to the previous year.
For the full story, visit travelandtourworld.com/news/article/indiana-tourism-soars-past-pre-pandemic-levels-in-2024-boosting-jobs-spending-and-local-economies.
