Mega-Millions from Tourists Boost Chippewa Valley Economy

Tom Giffey |

A few nights in a hotel, some meals in a restaurant, tickets to a show – bit by bit, spending by visitors to the Chippewa Valley adds up to an impressive pile of cash each year. In 2015, direct spending by tourists reached $347 million in the Valley, a 2.4 percent increase from the previous year. While that’s less than the 4.4 percent jump statewide (where tourist spending blossomed to $11.9 billion) it nonetheless demonstrates that visitors are pumping more money into our local economy than ever before. Overall, tourism spending supports nearly 6,400 full-time equivalent jobs in Eau Claire, Chippewa, and Dunn counties, according to figures released recently by the state Department of Tourism.

Last year, tourists spent an estimated $216 million in Eau Claire County alone. Although that was only a slight (0.2 percent) increase from 2014, it was enough to put Eau Claire at No. 14 among the state’s 72 counties. Meanwhile, Tourism spending rose 8 percent to $84 million in Chippewa County and by about 1 percent to $47 million in Dunn County. All that spending isn’t just good for tourism-related businesses and their employees: It’s also good for local governments, and thus taxpayers. Overall, visitor spending in the three counties generated $43 million in state and local taxes. “Tourism plays a critical role in our community and continues to grow, and from an economic standpoint, the numbers reflect that,” said Linda John, Visit Eau Claire’s executive director. “Last year’s numbers are very encouraging and we hope to capitalize on this momentum in the coming summer season with a strong promotional campaign that defines our brand and targets potential visitors with a message that resonates.” Translation: Get ready for more tourists!