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Despite unusually cold, wet weather, Michigan’s tourism industry experienced steady growth in 2014. And thanks largely to an improving economy, that momentum should continue this year.
Michigan State University researchers Sarah Nicholls and Dan McCole presented their annual report on the state of the industry Monday at the Pure Michigan Governor’s Conference on Tourism in Grand Rapids.
Nicholls said 2014 was 6 percent cooler and 11 percent wetter than normal. Nevertheless, two major indicators of tourism activity increased modestly, as hotel occupancy was up more than 2 percent and car traffic increased about 1 percent.
She added that consumer confidence was up 19 percent and gas prices were down nearly 5 percent in 2014.
The MSU researchers say tourism is expected to increase 1.5 percent this year while tourism spending, as measured by hotel and motel tax receipts, will climb an estimated 2.5 percent compared to 2014.
Tourism in Michigan supported 200,000 jobs and generated $18.7 billion in direct spending in 2013, the latest year figures were available.
