Keweenaw tourism revenue up 35 percent

What's happening: Visit Keweenaw, the tourism authority for Michigan’s northernmost peninsula, is reporting high amounts of economic impact due to tourism. According to its 2022 annual report, $140 million was brought into Houghton and Keweenaw counties. This is an approximate $37 million increase over 2021, or roughly a 35 percent increase. 

How was the data compiled: Collecting data for the report was the Western Upper Peninsula Planning & Development Region (WUPPDR). The group started in 1968 and provides data compilation, analysis and planning support. Starting in the winter with the popular skiing and snowmobile season, data is collected throughout the year and can highlight regular tourism trends or peaks during key events like Michigan Tech’s Winter Carnival.    

What they're saying: "This is our best estimate using the data available to us," said Brad Barnett, Visit Keweenaw executive director. "Inflation certainly played a role in visitor's increased spending, but shifts in lodging demand lead us to believe that spending in other areas, like retail and dining increased as well.”

What's next: Tourism reports can have a long reach on various economic programs in an area. Whether it be increased opportunities for small business startups, measuring returns on grants and government spending or monitoring the job market, local businesspeople will use the data to make better business decisions in the future.