Visitor spending in the Tri-Cities inched upward in 2024, with hundreds of millions of dollars spent on everything from dining and shopping to lodging and recreation opportunities, generating nearly $80 million in local taxes and supporting nearly 5,900 jobs. 

Data on last year’s tourism activity was collected by research firm Tourism Economics and released by Visit Tri-Cities, the region’s destination marketing and management organization. The results showed that tourists spent $643.5 million in the region last year, an average of $1.76 million per day, and supported $1.1 billion in business spending. 

“These numbers validate the efforts of hundreds of local businesses, hoteliers, restaurant owners, event producers and frontline workers who deliver exceptional experiences every day,” said Kevin Lewis, CEO of Visit Tri-Cities, in a statement. “Tourism fuels small business growth, keeps our communities vibrant, and supports services that benefit everyone – residents and visitors alike.” 

Overall, 2024’s visitor spending was up 2.2% compared to 2023. Tourism Economics’ report indicated that nearly 4 million people visited the Tri-Cities in 2024, some coming as part of travel to places such as Seattle, Spokane and Portland.

Here is how visitor spending broke down across business sectors: 

• Food and beverage: $146.5 million

• Retail: $144.3 million

• Lodging: $133.7 million

• Local transportation: $119.3 million 

• Recreation: $99.5 million

Visit Tri-Cities also reported that it tracked a 161% increase in positive media coverage for the region and an 86% rise in the number of events being booked.