Wisconsin is a tourism and recreation powerhouse. Read on for 50 must-know Wisconsin tourism and recreation statistics, including a helpful infographic at the end of the post.
Wisconsin Tourism Statistics
Tourism to Wisconsin had a $20.9B total economic impact in 2021.
Source: Wisconsin Department of Tourism
There were 102.3M visitor trips to Wisconsin in 2021.
Source: Wisconsin Department of Tourism
The total economic impact of tourism to Wisconsin was $20.9B in 2021.
Source: The Wisconsin Visitor Industry by Tourism Economics
Tourism to Wisconsin generated 169,700 jobs in 2021.
Source: The Wisconsin Visitor Industry by Tourism Economics
Visitors to Wisconsin spent $12.9B in 2021.
Source: The Wisconsin Visitor Industry by Tourism Economics
Overnight visitors to Wisconsin spent $8.6B in 2021.
Source: The Wisconsin Visitor Industry by Tourism Economics
Day visitors to Wisconsin spent $4.3B in 2021.
Source: The Wisconsin Visitor Industry by Tourism Economics
Visitors to Wisconsin spent $3.5B on lodging in 2021.
Source: The Wisconsin Visitor Industry by Tourism Economics
Visitors to Wisconsin spent $3.4B on Food and Beverage in 2021.
Source: The Wisconsin Visitor Industry by Tourism Economics
Visitors to Wisconsin spent $2.6B on retail in 2021.
Source: The Wisconsin Visitor Industry by Tourism Economics
Visitors to Wisconsin spent 1.7B on transportation in 2021.
Source: The Wisconsin Visitor Industry by Tourism Economics
Visitors to Wisconsin spent $1.6B on recreation and entertainment in 2021.
Source: The Wisconsin Visitor Industry by Tourism Economics
Day visitors spent an average of $70 per person in 2021.
Source: The Wisconsin Visitor Industry by Tourism Economics
Overnight visitors spent an average of $213 per person in 2021.
Source: The Wisconsin Visitor Industry by Tourism Economics
The average visitor to Wisconsin spent $126 in 2021.
Source: The Wisconsin Visitor Industry by Tourism Economics
The 3rd quarter has the highest level of visitor spending in Wisconsin, at nearly $4.5B.
Source: The Wisconsin Visitor Industry by Tourism Economics
Tourism to Wisconsin generated $1.4B in state and local taxes.
Source: Wisconsin Department of Tourism
Tourism to Wisconsin supports 169K full-time and part-time jobs.
Source: Wisconsin Department of Tourism
EAA Airventure in Osk Kosh contributes $170M in economic benefit.
Source: UW Osh Kosh Today
The State of Wisconsin budgets $781K/year to promote tourism.
Source: Wisconsin Tourism Federation
Milwaukee County has the highest level of direct visitor spending at over $1.3B in 2021.
Source: Wisconsin Department of Tourism
Sauk County has the second highest level of direct visitor spending at $960M in 2021.
Source: Wisconsin Department of Tourism
Dane County has the third highest level of direct visitor spending at $783M in 2021.
Source: Wisconsin Department of Tourism
Waukesha County has the fourth highest level of direct visitor spending at nearly $574M in 2021.
Source: Wisconsin Department of Tourism
Brown County has the fifth highest level of direct visitor spending at $476M.
Source: Wisconsin Department of Tourism
Walworth County has the sixth highest level of direct visitor spending at nearly $438M in 2021.
Source: Wisconsin Department of Tourism
Door County has the seventh highest level of direct visitor spending at $304M in 2021.
Source: Wisconsin Department of Tourism
Wisconsin Recreation Statistics
20 million people visit Wisconsin State Parks each year.
Source: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Outdoor Recreation contributes $7.8B to the gross domestic product of Wisconsin. This is a 2.3% share of the state’s GDP.
Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Department of Commerce
Outdoor recreation supports over 87K jobs, a 3.0% share of all jobs in the State of Wisconsin.
Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Department of Commerce
Wisconsin ranks 5th in the US for the share of all jobs in outdoor recreation-related manufacturing.
Source: Headwaters Economics
Outdoor recreation contributes $4.2B in worker compensation, a 2.1% share of compensation in Wisconsin.
Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Department of Commerce
95% of Wisconsin residents participate in outdoor recreation.
Source: Headwaters Economics
Motorcycling/ATVin added over $990M to Wisconsin’s gross domestic product in 2020. This is the highest amount of any state in the United States of America.
Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Department of Commerce
Boating and fishing added over $720M to the gross domestic product of the State of Wisconsin in 2020.
Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Department of Commerce
Bicycling added over $308M to the gross domestic product of the State of Wisconsin in 2020. This is second in the nation.
Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Department of Commerce
RVing added over $299M to the gross domestic product in the State of Wisconsin in 2020.
Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Department of Commerce
Hunting, shooting, and trapping added over $171M to the gross domestic product in the State of Wisconsin in 2020.
Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Department of Commerce
Equestrian activities added over $129M to the gross domestic product in the State of Wisconsin in 2020.
Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Department of Commerce
Climbing, hiking, and tent camping added over $107M to the gross domestic product in the State of Wisconsin in 2020.
Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Department of Commerce
Snow activities added over $51M to the gross domestic product in the State of Wisconsin in 2020.
Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Department of Commerce
Recreational flying added over $14M to the gross domestic product in the State of Wisconsin in 2020.
Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Department of Commerce
2,359,000 people participated in wildlife watching in Wisconsin in 2011, for a $1.4M economic impact.
Source: Wildlife Watching in the U.S.: the Economic Impacts on National and State Economies in 2011.
The National Parks Service administers 4 areas in the State of Wisconsin: the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, the Ice Age National Scenic Trail, the North Country National Scenic Trail, and the Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway.
Source: National Park Service
657K people visited areas and properties administered by the National Park Service in Wisconsin in 2021.
Source: National Park Service
Areas and properties administered by the National Park Service in Wisconsin contributed $99.3M in economic output in 2021.
Source: National Park Service
2,519 sites in Wisconsin are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Source: National Park Service
Wisconsin has 43 National Historic Landmarks.
Source: National Park Service
Wisconsin has 18 National Natural Landmarks
Source: National Park Service
Wisconsin has 2 World Heritage Sites.
Source: National Park Service
Sources
Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Department of Commerce
Wildlife Watching in the U.S.: the Economic Impacts on National and State Economies in 2011
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
