Buckeye State officials had good reason to celebrate when they took a look at the economic impact of tourism in Ohio in 2024. Those numbers are looking up.

According to a news release from the state Department of Development, Ohio saw 3.5 million more visitors in 2024 than in 2023, for a total of approximately 242 million visitors.

Approximately 20 percent of those travelers were interested in being here long enough that they booked an overnight stay. State officials say that meant $57 billion in economic impact and $4.7 billion in state and local tax revenue. For the state’s purposes, tourism supports more than 443,000 jobs.

It’s an industry that holds up its end of the bargain for communities because Ohio is so rich in history, attractions, restaurants and natural beauty worth visiting.

“Tourism isn’t just about attractions, it’s about impact,” said Development Department Director Lydia Mihalik. “It brings people together, keeps dollars flowing into our communities and boosts local economies in every corner of our state. These numbers show that Ohio’s tourism industry is strong and growing.”

That includes our section of Eastern Ohio. Attractions such as Historic Fort Steuben, the Nutcracker Village, the Catfish Crawl Artwalk, Christmas at the Fort, the Advent Village, First Fridays on Fourth, the Steubenville City of Murals Project, Wednesdays in Wintersville, Beatty Park, Union Cemetery, the Dean Martin Festival, the annual Greek Festival presented by Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, the Rink at Franciscan Square, the campus at the Franciscan University of Steubenville, the Hellbender Preserve, concerts held in communities around the area, the Jefferson County Historical Museum, the Jefferson County Fair, the Toronto Festival of the Arts, Historic Mount Pleasant, Austin Lake RV Park and Cabins, local restaurants — the list goes on, and reminds us there are plenty of things that attract people to Steubenville and Jefferson County.

It also keeps visitors coming back for more — and the development department says 93 percent of recent visitors have said they are likely to return within the next year.

“Ohio continues to prove itself as a top destination for travelers, offering memorable experiences and showcasing the best of our communities,” said Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel. “When people visit our state, they see firsthand what makes Ohio special and why we’re proud to call the Buckeye State home.”

All of the hard work behind that hospitality is important. When visitors get to experience all that our region has to offer, they might just think about making it their home.