(Arnolds Park)– Iowa’s tourism economy reached new heights in 2024. According to Travel Iowa, visitors spent more than seven and a half billion dollars statewide, marking one of the strongest years on record. The impact was especially strong here in Dickinson County where travel spending topped 241.6 million dollars in 2024. Kiley Zakowski, Executive Director of Vacation Okoboji said they were excited to see the 3.4 percent increase over 2023…
“We weren’t really sure what to expect with the economic impact of the flooding last summer but really excited to see that our community really worked hard to come back and still have a 3.4 percent increase resulting in 241.6 million dollars in direct visitor spending in the county.”
Tourism has supported over 1400 jobs here in the Iowa Great Lakes Area but Zankowski says it supports a lot more…
“There’s tourists that have properties here that need landscaping and people are going to grocery stores and there’s so much of a ripple effect from tourists in our community and it makes such a difference. Not only from them coming here and the economic impact but all the amenities that our locals are able to enjoy all year long.”
Zankowski says the people and the businesses in Dickinson County are what makes the increase possible…
“We’re really lucky to have all of the businesses that we have in the Iowa Great Lakes Area and it seems like every single year everyone is coming together and working hard to make sure that there’s even more for people to enjoy not only in the shoulder season but year round.”
You can find the full tourism economics report at traveliowa.com
