Governor Malloy Announces Economic Impact Survey: Tourism Contributes Billions to CT Economy

Governor Malloy: Economic Impact Study finds tourism contributes $14.7 billion to Connecticut's economy, posts five straight years of job growth in state
 
Hartford, CT – Governor Dannel P. Malloy and the Connecticut Office of Tourism today announced the results of an economic impact study of the tourism industry in Connecticut, showing total direct and indirect business sales supported by the travel industry reached $14.7 billion in 2015 – a 4.6 percent increase since 2013.  The study also shows that tourism employment grew 2 percent since 2013 to reach 82,688 jobs in 2015, the fifth straight year of employment growth.
 
“The tourism sector is one of the major drivers of Connecticut’s economy,” Governor Malloy said.  “It creates jobs, highlights the fantastic array of cultural and entertainment venues in the state, and contributes to our high quality of life.  Based on the results of this analysis, there can be no doubt that our strategic investment in tourism is fueling economic growth.”
 
**For the full economic impact study on tourism in the state, click here**
 
Other key findings from the study, which focused on the impact of the industry during the 2015 calendar year, include: 

• Direct traveler spending totaled $8.7 billion in 2015, up 5.1 percent from 2013 and up 3.3 percent annually over the past five years.
• Traveler spending increased across Connecticut from 2014 to 2015.
• Travel generated $1.7 billion in tax revenues in 2015, including $910 million in state and local taxes and $778 million in federal taxes. 

“Governor Malloy’s investments in tourism have resulted in major returns in jobs and economic growth, but in order to protect and expand on these gains, we need to continue to invest in tourism,” Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner (DECD) Catherine Smith said.  “We believe the most important role the state can play is to invest in out-of-state advertising to promote all there is to see and do in Connecticut.”
 
“Tourism is a big and growing industry in Connecticut, and we’re seeing its positive effects all across our beautiful state,” DECD Deputy Commissioner Tim Sullivan said.  “Together with our many state and industry partners, we’re working to ensure a bright future for the tourism industry and the thousands of Connecticut families it supports.”

The Governor joined state officials to unveil the analysis this morning at Mystic Seaport, one of the state’s many popular tourist destinations.
 
“Tourism is absolutely critical to the economic health of the Mystic area and our state as a whole,” Mystic Seaport President Stephen White said.  “We look forward to working even more closely with the Connecticut Office of Tourism to build on this progress.”
 
Since launching in 2012, Connecticut’s still revolutionary tourism marketing efforts have focused on increasing awareness of Connecticut as a travel destination and driving visitors to attractions large and small in every corner of the state.  Central to those marketing efforts is the state’s award-winning tourism website, CTvisit.com, which attracted 4.2 million visits in 2016.
 
The Connecticut Office of Tourism is a division of the Department of Economic and Community Development.  The economic impact study was conducted by Tourism Economics, an Oxford Economics company and leading research firm. 
 
**Download: Economic Impact Study on Tourism in Connecticut for Calendar Year 2015