A Record-Breaking 19.2 Million People Visited Cleveland In 2018
By Nikki Rhoades|Published August 30, 2019
×
Nikki Rhoades
Author
Nikki is a lifelong Ohioan with a love for literature. She holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Akron and has enjoyed publishing her written work since 2007. She has a love of travel and does so frequently, though she believes that home is where the heart is — she continues to work in and around Cleveland as a digital content specialist to this day, working on everything from commercial scripts and social media posts to grassroots marketing initiatives.
For many of us, Cleveland is home. It’s where we were born and where we put down roots, and the culture feels like… well, like the community is one big family. This was once our coveted secret, hidden behind the guise of “the mistake on the lake.” In recent years, however, someone let the cat out of the bag. Recently, Destination Cleveland – the local visitors’ bureau – announced that local tourism has absolutely exploded. Wondering how many people came to Cleveland last year? Let’s find out:
While the "hastily made tourism video" may have once been the standard for Cleveland, tourism has been climbing in Cleveland for the past several few years.
Do you remember the viral video produced by bishopvids? (Be warned, if you haven’t seen it… this is, indeed, a parody video and has a bit of coarse language and good-spirited jabs.) You can check it out here:
In 2018, Destination Cleveland revealed, the city attracted 19.2 million visitors!
People visited Cleveland for both leisure and business travel last year. In their press release, Destination Cleveland explained that Cleveland’s tourism has increased by 29 percent since 2011. Last year’s numbers were a mere 3.9 percent higher than in 2017… yet tourism to Cuyahoga County has continued to grow at a faster rate than the national average.
Advertisement
Just over half of the visitors to the region came on day trips, and around 42 percent of 2018’s tourist enjoyed an overnight visit.
Those many millions of visitors to Cleveland had a positive impact on the local economy, as you may have imagined. Destination Cleveland explains that the economic impact of 2018 tourism comes out to about $9.4 billion, which increased 6.5 percent over 2017’s figures.
Advertisement
While these numbers may seem astronomical, just wait until we have the results from this year’s tourism!
Visitors continue to flock to Cuyahoga County, and tourism has steadily increased since about 2010. The future is doubtlessly bright for a place as vibrant as Cleveland!
The report does not express where in Cuyahoga County most visitors flocked, but Cleveland’s incredible landmarks and parks doubtlessly captivated crowds.
If you've never visited Cleveland, our stunning arcades are a must-visit stop. The Old Arcade and the Fifth Street Arcades each have their own particular flair, and each features striking and unique architecture.
Hopefully, those visitors had a chance to swing by the incredible institutions in University Circle.
University Circle is striking... so much so that it has been recognized as one of the most beautiful neighborhoods in the nation. Its museums and gardens are must-see Cleveland landmarks, and the surrounding Wade Park is absolutely gorgeous.
And tourists will surely be blown away to explore Cleveland's musical roots.
Cleveland is the "birthplace" of rock and roll, and our very own music museum showcases this exquisitely. The man that coined the term for this genre is now buried in Lake View Cemetery.
For some, it just takes one visit to Cleveland... and the rest is history.
Some are so enchanted by Cleveland's charms that they choose to put down roots here. If you are considering moving to our lovely city, you should take a look at the most affordable neighborhoods in Cleveland.
Advertisement
While some of us have always known of Cleveland's charms, we're happy to have the chance to share its wonders with the rest of the world.
So there you have it! Cleveland, as it turns out, is a burgeoning city for tourism. It’s about time, quite frankly! There’s so much to discover here. What do you think this year’s tourism numbers will look like?
Looking for things to do during your next trip to or staycation in Cleveland? You should add these unusual things to do in Cleveland to your bucket list.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
