Travel and tourism in Ohio and across the country are significant economic development engines, employing hundreds of thousands of people and generating hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenue.

Locally, tourism is a strong component of our economy, and we work to continuously increase its significant impact in Belmont County.

According to Oxford Economics, tourism generated a total economic impact of $255 million in Belmont County during 2021 – an increase from $246 million in 2019. Tourism resulted in $147 millin of direct visitor spending, $35 million in total tax revenues and relieved our residents $676 per household in tax burden.

Travel predictions for 2023 are looking strong, and according to booking.com, 73% of people are more optimistic about travel than they were in 2022. Many travelers are looking for experiences like nostalgic locations, community-minded trips, laid-back vacations, exploring lesser-known cities and finding hidden gems. Belmont County is positioned well to accommodate just that! We are small towns with big communities.

Belmont County is known for its smalltown hospitality and friendly, laid-back atmosphere. Our towns have been able to retain their strong values, historic character and build upon them over the years. Our rich history and heritage are carried through and celebrated at events and festivals every year. These events connect our residents with visitors, while keeping old traditions alive and showing off what makes our beautiful communities so unique.

The tourism office plays an integral role marketing our area and showcasing the best of Belmont County. Each year we publish a new visitors guide that tells the story of Belmont County. This 50-plus page magazine gives visitors a highlight of our area businesses, attractions and events, with 15,000 copies distributed locally and regionally throughout the year.

In addition to the visitors guide, our office sends out a weekly newsletter featuring events and happenings in the county.

Our newsletter has an average open rate nearly double the national average. We have a strong web and social media presence, too.

If you are planning events in 2023, please share that information with our office, so we can add it to our website event calendar and share on our social media channels. You can visit the office at the Ohio Valley Mall, call 740-695-4359 or go online to visitbelmontcounty.com/.

The tourism office is proud to be a community partner, resource and help to promote all the happenings right here, in friendly, beautiful, Belmont County. We are optimistic about the future of Belmont County and looking forward to an exciting and impactful 2023!

Each month this space will be devoted to a column written by Jackee Pugh, executive director of the Belmont County Tourism Council. She will provide information about the tourism office, local attractions, upcoming events, and other local finds in Belmont County. She will share information about the travel and tourism industry and how it impacts our local economy.