Tourism On The Rise, Bringing Nearly $24.5 Billion To Arizona

TUCSON, AZ — According to the Arizona Office of Tourism’s 2019 industry performance report, covering the year 2018, Arizona tourism raked in $24.4 billion last year, a 7.8 percent increase from 2017. Maricopa County visitor spending comprised nearly half the $24.4 billion total, at $12 billion in tourism revenue, while Pima County drew in $2.5 billion.

The growth in total tourism revenue fueled increased federal, state and local tax revenue for the year, rising a combined 9.6 percent to $3.63 billion. The tourism boom also meant a rise in earnings for Arizona tourism employees to $7.4 billion, up 6.2 percent annually. Related to that rise was the large number of tourism industry-related jobs created (192,000 for the state, up about 2 percent), with Maricopa County (107,500) and Pima County (nearly 25,000) exponentially leading all other Arizona counties.

Arizona had 45.4 million combined international and domestic visitors in 2018, a 3.3 percent increase.

Top origin countries for 2018 international overnight visitors to Arizona:

1. Mexico (3.8 million)
2. Canada (962,000)
3. Germany (132,800)
4. United Kingdom (121,700)
5. France (99,800)
6. China (78,300)

Top origin states for 2018 domestic overnight visitors to Arizona:

1. Arizona (11 million)
2. California (7.5 million)
3. Texas (2.1 million)
4. Illinois (1.6 million)
5. Colorado (1.4 million)
6. Florida (1.4 million)