Tourism in Southwest Missouri generates $485 million, supports thousands of jobs
Tourism in Jasper, Newton, Barton and McDonald counties generated $485 million last year in revenue and supports thousands of jobs.
During National Travel and Tourism Week, which begins Sunday, the Joplin Convention and Visitors Bureau, also called Visit Joplin, will observe the power of travel.
'Along the Route 66 Tri-State Corridor alone, the travel and tourism industry contributes to the regional economy, supporting local businesses while fostering long-term growth,' Patrick Tuttle, director of Visit Joplin, said in a statement. 'In 2024, over 1,700 guests signed the visitors log in our Route 66 visitor center, with more than 1,100 of them being guests from 45 different countries.'
He said that the Missouri Division of Tourism's most recent annual report for fiscal 2024 shows that the four counties around Joplin provided 8,656 tourism-related jobs.
According to the report:
• Barton County, with 365 tourism jobs, generated $15.4 million.
• McDonald County, with 374 tourism jobs, generated $17 million.
• Newton County, with 2,271 tourism jobs, generated $138.5 million.
• Jasper County, with 5,646 jobs, generated $314.5 million.
Since 1983, National Travel and Tourism Week has brought attention to the travel industry's contribution to U.S. economic strength, community vitality and quality of life. In 2024, the national travel industry generated $2.9 trillion in economic output, supported more than 15 million jobs, and produced $190 billion in tax revenue, equivalent to $1,490 per household, according to the U.S. travel industry.
The region has a number of tourism attractions.
Route 66, also called the Mother Road and America's Main Street, traverses through Joplin, and a new mural was unveiled recently in the Route 66 Mural Park in downtown Joplin across from City Hall. Titled 'Route 66 Tri-State Corridor,' it highlights 21 Route 66 landmarks in the region.
Joplin also sits next to the historic Jefferson Highway, which ran from Winnipeg, Canada, to New Orleans. Dedicated in 1916 and named for President Thomas Jefferson, it was inspired by the east–west Lincoln Highway and was nicknamed the 'Palm to Pine Highway' for the varying types of trees found at each end.
Another attraction found in Joplin is Grand Falls, the largest continuously flowing waterfall in Missouri.
In the Diamond area, about 16 miles east of Joplin, George Washington Carver National Monument is managed by the National Park Service. It commemorates the life and contributions of the former enslaved person who became the nation's foremost agricultural scientist.
Another federal attraction in Newton County is the Neosho National Fish Hatchery. The hatchery raises rainbow trout as well as pallid sturgeon and Topeka shiners for restoration efforts. Additionally, log perch and freshwater drum are raised to serve as hosts for freshwater mussel restoration efforts. In addition to these species, visitors to Neosho National Fish Hatchery can see a variety of local birds and small mammals.
Lamar, in Barton County, is the birthplace of former President Harry Truman, and his childhood home is a state historic site. Lamar also has a monument in honor of frontier lawman Wyatt Earp, who once lived in that area.
McDonald County is frequented by those who like to fish, and float and is the home of one state park. The county seat also offers its story of Jesse James and the county's historical secession from the state of Missouri.
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