City

The numbers are in: CBUS’ travel economy is on an upward trajectory

The 2023 State of the Visitor Industry: Mid-Year Report shows promising growth of Columbus through visitors and major events hosted in the city.

By Hanna Williford
, August 7, 2023
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The report comes from Experience Columbus and the Greater Columbus Sports Commission. | Photo by @thesciotomile

The 2023 State of the Visitor Industry: Mid-Year Report is available, and it shows that Columbus continues to be a hot spot for travel, conventions, and national events. Let’s break it down:

Travel economy

There has been a 45% increase in the number of conventions, trade shows, and sporting events hosted in CBUS, according to the report.

This year, Greater Columbus hosted the NCAA Men’s and Women’s DI Basketball Tournament, Arnold Sports Festival, and the US Conference of Mayors, which brought millions to the Capital City.

New visitors

Nearly 50 million people visited Columbus in 2022, which is a 16% increase from 2021. The numbers continue to climb this year, with 224 conventions hosted within the first six months of 2023.

What’s next?

Plans for 2024 are already in motion, with Columbus playing host to the US Figure Skating Championships in January and the 2024 Major League Soccer All-Star Game in July.

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Hanna Williford
Hanna is based in Columbus, OH and is a graduate from The Ohio State University. Her experience is in broadcasting, and she reports for OSU athletics, the Big Ten Network, and hosts for the Columbus Clippers. In her free time she loves staying active, supporting the Buckeyes, and exploring new restaurants.