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Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Tourism study shows rebound in visitors
A recently tourism study shows visitors to Joplin spent more than $209 million here in a year and that the visitor numbers have rebounded since a decline during the COVID-19 pandemic. 'It was good to know that the spending power of our guests definitely has an impact both directly and indirectly,' said Patrick Tuttle, director of the Joplin Convention and Visitors Bureau, of the study results. The bureau retained the firm of Downs & St. Germain Research of Tallahassee, Florida, to provide updated data on the impact of tourism on Joplin's economy. Joseph St. Germain, president of the firm, said more than 2,000 surveys were done of visitors from April 2024 through March 2025 to collect data. Much of the information was harvested from field interviews of visitors and some through the use of email or QR code questionnaires or online panels. Overall, the results showed that more 1.15 million visitors were here during the span of that year. Their spending helps support a number of jobs available here, the study reported. Though the survey showed $209 million in direct spending, the total economic impact is calculated at $408.8 million from the indirect spending of those who provide services, meals and merchandise to visitors. St. Germain said that the indirect spending occurs when hotels, restaurants, convenience stores and other businesses buy things from the revenue resulting from visitors. Visitors used 415,600 nights of lodging during the survey year, which provided a large share of the spending. The firm's study showed that tourism spending provided 2,730 jobs and more than $95.8 million in wages. Sports and Route 66 travel were two of the categories driving visitors to Joplin. Mike Greninger, a hotel manager who also operates Parkwood Tournaments, staging baseball and softball events, said these types of studies are helpful to those who depend on tourism and travel. 'It's a lot easier to track sporting events. There are so many things to track and you can gauge numbers better' with studies like this one. 'I'm amazed at how much travel and how many guests we receive from Route 66,' he said. In addition, Joplin and surrounding cities along with universities and other sports promoters do a good job, he said. 'I see our lobby in the mornings full of kids on their way traveling somewhere. We're at the crossroads here, and that's a benefit. They say half of the country's population are within a day's drive of here, and that's significant,' he said. As a father who traveled for his daughter to play ball, he added, 'The economic impact numbers are significant. Sometimes it's hard for people to believe them but they are true.' Bouncing back Tuttle said the study also showed that visits and hotel stays have bounced back after a downturn because of COVID-19. 'It's good that our occupancy rate was back to where it was before the pandemic,' Tuttle said of the report's results. 'A lot of towns were expecting to meet that mark this year. Before the pandemic, we were at 60% occupancy and we were at 60 to 65% of our motels rooms used during the reporting week.' Studies like this one are commissioned, he said, because 'it helps us in our marketing effort' so that advertising efforts can be targeted toward those likely to visit. 'It also helps to understand where some of the value is, where guests are going and what they're doing while they're here,' Tuttle said. The bureau will continue to collect data from visitors 'so we can keep the information current and see where the peaks and value are. We will crunch the numbers annually and see where we are. It's a tool to continue with our efforts,' he said. Another of the economic benefits to Joplin residents resulting from tourism is that visitor spending supplants $336 per household in state and local taxes that would have had to have been paid by locals without the dollars generated from those out-of-town visitors, the report showed. Nearly half of those who came into Joplin, or about 527,000, were here for a day trip and did not stay the night. The top three reasons cited for visiting Joplin were to spend time with friends and/or relatives for 30% of those surveyed. About 23% were here to attend a sporting event, and another 23% came for a special occasion or event. Sports and Route 66 are good draws of visitors to Joplin, according to the report's numbers. The survey analysts said that about 1 in 5 of those who came here were regional, living within 70 miles of Joplin. The largest group are those who live in nearby cities and communities. Next are visitors from Springfield, Kansas City, Tulsa in Oklahoma, St. Louis and Northwest Arkansas. Those who traveled from farther away were from cities such as Minneapolis-St. Paul, Dallas-Fort Worth, Oklahoma City, Chicago and Denver. While they were here, the most common activities were dining out, shopping, visiting friends and relatives, going to sporting events, and taking in Route 66. Other popular activities were going to historic sites, and seeing or driving by historical homes and buildings.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
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.
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Joplin's birthday celebration highlights history and Irish heritage
JOPLIN, Mo. — We caught up with Joplin's CVB director this evening, as city leaders took time to recognize Joplin's upcoming birthday. Joplin will turn 152 years old on March 23rd, but the city's celebration commission took time during tonight's council meeting to recognize the milestone. PREVIOUS: 152 years of Joplin history to be celebrated A presentation was made specifically on St. Patrick's Day to recognize Joplin's roots and its founding fathers' Irish heritage. Presenters feel marking the city's birthday is important every year, to remember its roots and where it came from. 'Joplin's always been a city of resilience. You go back to the mining days and the struggling of mining. You know, when they first started there were 20 prospectors here. And, one year later, when they discovered lead, there were 500. And it got as big as 8,000 before the mining was done. So, it's been a mega area for all kinds of development through the years. So, remembering that birthday is important to all of us,' said Patrick Tuttle, Joplin CVB director/ Joplin Celebrations Commission member. The commission also recognized the fact city hall has been in the historic Newman building for 20 years. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
