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Research
Our staff has compiled a lot of data on the region and tourism industry. We are happy to provide you with details, reports and statistics.
Tourism's Economic Impact on our Community
In 2024, travel-related spending reached $2.0 billion, a 2.3% increase compared to the previous year. Overnight visitor volume was up 1.7%, which ultimately contributed to a 2.3% increase in travel-related spending compared to the previous year.
• Overnight Visitor volume (person-trips) increased 1.7% from 1,860,200 visitors in 2023 to 1,892,200 visitors in 2024.
• Travel-related spending was approximately $2.0 billion in 2024; a 2.3% increase compared to the previous year.
• Direct earnings (wages, benefits, and proprietor income generated by travel) grew 5.2%, from $269.1 million in 2023 to $283.0 million in 2024.
• Direct travel generated employment gained approximately 120 jobs in 2024, a 2.3% increase compared to the previous year.
• Local tax receipts generated by travel-related spending totaled $65.2 million in 2024, a 1.7% increase compared to 2023. This equates to approximately $2,054 per resident household.
For more data please see the 2024p Seattle Southside Travel Impacts study, prepared for Seattle Southside, that documents the economic significance of the travel industry in the Seattle Southside area of King County from 2015 through 2024.
Seattle Southside Visitation Reports
More Data
WASHINGTON STATE VISITOR IMPACT
Figures released by State of Washington Tourism (SWT) indicate modest growth in Washington State’s visitor volume, expenditures, tax receipts and employment in 2024, though adjusted for inflation, visitor spending has not yet surpassed 2019 levels. The annual Economic Impacts of Visitors in Washington State, compiled by national travel research firm Tourism Economics for SWT, was released in advance of National Travel and Tourism Week, May 4-10.
According to the report, visitor expenditures increased 5.3% to $25.1 billion in 2024, exceeding 2019 levels. However, in inflation-adjusted terms, the industry remains 5.2% behind 2019 business levels. Seattle-King County visitor spending increased 6.8%, outpacing the state as a whole. All other counties collectively grew 4.0%.
Last year, visits to Washington increased 2.7% to 110.8 million, or 101% of 2019 levels. The market was largely composed of domestic visitation (97.8% of total share), which grew 2.6%. International markets increased 9.7 percent overall; Canadian visits grew 3.5% and other international visits grew 19.1% (note that 2024 growth figures preclude the downward influence of 2025 tariffs and political rhetoric). Tourism supported 232,457 direct, indirect, and induced (or “total jobs”) jobs, comprising 1 in 21 jobs in the state.
More About What We Do
Media Brand Kit
The Seattle Southside Brand Kit consists of the Explore Seattle Southside logo and brand standards guide for download.
Annual Reports
Seattle Southside by the numbers.
Strategic Plan
Working with local civic and business leaders, we’ve developed a strategic plan focusing on activities with the largest return on investment for attracting groups, tourists and business travelers to Seattle Southside.