Report: Tourism Has $7.1B Impact On Oklahoma

A new report shows that tourism has a $7.1 billion economic impact on Oklahoma.

The report, released by the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department, shows that visitors spent 6.1 percent more in 2012 compared to 2011.

Payroll income in the state's tourism sectors saw a 2.2 percent increase over 2011, while employment in those sectors rose from 76,600 in 2011 to 78,200 in 2012.

The report states:

• Without the jobs generated by domestic travel, Oklahoma's 2012 unemployment rate of 5 percent would have been 4.3 points higher than it was, or 9.5 percent of the labor force.
• On average, every $91,640 spent in Oklahoma by domestic travelers generated one job in 2012.

The report says tourism benefits all of Oklahoma's 77 counties. Nineteen of the counties received more than $50 million in domestic travel expenditures in 2012.

• Six counties indicated 1,000 or more jobs directly supported by domestic travel.
• Tourism generated almost $2.5 billion in Oklahoma County and over $1.7 billion in Tulsa County for 2012.

Secretary of Tourism Deby Snodgrass said the numbers show that the tourism industry in Oklahoma is strong and producing tax revenue.

• Domestic spending in Oklahoma generated more than $1.1 billion in tax revenue for federal, state and local governments in 2012. This is up 4.0 percent from 2011.

Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department report

The Associated Press contributed to this report.