(Undated)– Tourism continues to be a multi-billion dollar industry in Iowa. Amy Zeigler with the Iowa Tourism Office says newly released numbers show 2025 was a big year for Iowa tourism…
“We saw a record setting 46.3 million visitors to the state of Iowa in 2025. In all, that generated $7.6 billion in actual visitor spending and an $11.4 billion economic impact on the state.”
Zeigler says the state is seeing good momentum in hotel and vacation rental revenue…
“Already our hotel revenue in the state is up 11.3 percent compared to the same period in 2025. Short term rentals and our Air BNB stays have increased 12.5 percent year over year, so we’re seeing really great momentum through the end of 2026.”
Zeigler a combination of attractions and events attributed to the strong numbers…
“Whether it’s people getting off the beaten path and traveling our scenic byways, shopping and dining on our main streets, utilizing our two thousand plus miles of bike trails, people are looking for those quieter off the beaten path locations.”
In 2025, the tourism industry supported more than 72 thousand jobs in Iowa, or roughly 5 and a half percent of the state’s overall workforce.
(Courtesy TTWN Media Networks)
