Tourism in Omaha rebounded to near pre-pandemic levels in 21

Tourism numbers in 2021 have rebounded to near pre-pandemic levels in the Omaha area, the Omaha Convention and Visitors Bureau said Tuesday.

Last year, 12.7 million visitors came to Douglas City and County. That total represents a 95% rebound from the all-time high of 2019 — the last full year before the COVID-19 pandemic — when 13.4 million visitors came to the city.

Nearly 2 million more visitors came to Omaha in 2021 than in 2020.

As expected, the rebound in traffic also led to an increase in tourism spending. In 2021, tourists in the region spent around $1.25 billion. This is slightly lower than the roughly $1.35 billion spent by tourists in 2019, but significantly higher than the $947 million spent in 2020.

“When you consider that 2019 was a banner year for tourism in Omaha, both in terms of visitor volume and visitor spending, to see the numbers reflect this level of recovery is a testament to the determination and resilience of our city ​​and our county,” said Deborah Ward, executive director of the Convention and Visitors Bureau, also known as Visit Omaha.

Accommodation and recreation were two of the biggest industries to rebound from tough years in 2020. Tourists collectively spent more than $252 million on accommodation in 2021. That was 94% more than they only spent on accommodation in 2020 and only 5% below 2019 levels.

Tourists spent $191 million on recreation in 2021. This represents a 40% increase from 2020.

Ward credited a plethora of events returning to Omaha in 2021, including youth sports, the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials and the College World Series, for attracting tourists.

“In addition to pent-up demand, I think people just wanted to get out of the house in 2021,” she said. “We did a lot of sport.

The increase in the number of tourists and tourism spending has also led to an increase in the number of jobs in the community. Employment in hotels, restaurants, retailers and attractions increased by 1,100 to a total of 10,450 as a direct result of visitor spending in 2021.

Total jobs are only 80% of what the city and county enjoyed before the pandemic. The Convention and Visitors Bureau said employers are struggling to fill positions in 2021.