More visitors, more direct dollars infused into Philadelphia’s economy. That’s the synopsis of a new report from the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau (PHLCVB) and Tourism Economics. In 2018, 697,000 overseas visitors — a 7.5% year-on-year (YoY) increase — came to the Greater Philadelphia region, marking the fourth consecutive year of growth. Overseas visitors also contributed $723 million in direct visitor spending, generating $1.2 billion in economic impact, both modern-day records.
“Hospitality is one of the largest and fastest growing employment sectors in Philadelphia because we continue to see visitation rise across all sectors. Overseas visitors are incredibly important as they account for 57% of all international visitation and 79% of all international visitor spending,” said PHLCVB President and CEO Julie Coker Graham. “Every day our team is focused on telling Philadelphia’s story globally. In 2018 our team hosted 96 influential global media and 334 travel trade professionals in-market. By doing so, we’re able to reinforce positive perceptions of the city and encourage and inspire future visitation.”
The PHLCVB also works in concert with local industry partners like the Greater Philadelphia Hotel Association, Visit Philadelphia and the Philadelphia International Airport. The destination’s collective message is resonating: the American experience should begin in the city where the country was founded. In 2018, nine of Philadelphia’s ‘top 10’ overseas markets grew year-on-year (YOY). Philadelphia’s top five markets include the United Kingdom, China, Germany, India, and France, respectively. Some of the notable highlights include:
• The United Kingdom delivered the highest number of overseas visitors to Philadelphia at 112,000 (a 3.1% YoY increase).
• China led all markets with $136 million in overall visitor spending (15.6% YoY increase), represented by 82,000 visitors, a 20% increase from 2017. Source : eturbo news
