Phoenix welcomed a record 19.5 million visitors last year

PHOENIX, AZ

As Phoenix’s evolution continues, travel and tourism remain a vital piece of our economy. Tourism Economics, an

Oxford Economics Company, released its 2022 Phoenix Visitor Economy Report in May, and the facts and figures

tell the story of compelling growth and the global magnetism of our destination.

The travel and tourism industry serves as a true anchor for the success of Phoenix, as visitors produce substantial

economic benefits to households, businesses, and government alike and are an imperative driver of the city’s

future. By examining the visitor economy, policymakers can inform decisions regarding the funding and

prioritization of continued travel and tourism development. They can also evaluate its successes and future needs

as Phoenix continues to build and bolster its visitor economy in the years to come.

 

“This report demonstrates the remarkable growth Phoenix has experienced despite the effects and uncertainty

seen throughout the course of the pandemic, and it was led by domestic visitation. It’s exciting to see how the

visitor industry impacts every sector of Phoenix’s economy, supporting thousands of jobs and generating millions

in wages in sectors that are not directly impacted by visitors”, said Eric Kerr, Vice President of Insights and

Development at Visit Phoenix. “Tax impacts show the incredible amount of funds generated for state, county and

city governments – these funds are then used to provide services for locals and assist in keeping taxes lower”,

added Kerr.

 

Tourism Economics 2022 Phoenix Visitor Economy Report revealed the following:

• 19.5 million total visitors to Phoenix in 2022: Visitors to Phoenix topped 19.5 million last year, not only

breaking our previous record of 19.4 million in 2019, but also growing to 101% of pre-pandemic levels, in

addition to the number of visitors growing by more than three million trips in 2022 (an increase of 19%).

• Direct Visitor Spending - $4.4B: Visitor activity increased significantly in 2022. Spending by visitors

increased by more than $1 billion to reach $4.4 billion. Building upon its recovery in 2021, visitor spending

reached 117% of pre-pandemic levels in 2022.

o This means that $12.1 million was spent each day by visitors in Phoenix in 2022.

• $7.5 billion in total tourism economic impact: Direct visitor spending of $4.4 billion generated a total of

$7.5 billion in total business sales – this total economic impact included nearly 53,000 jobs and $1.3

billion in state and local tax revenues.

• Job impacts: Visitor activity sustained 33,431 direct jobs and an additional 19,489 jobs supported from

indirect and induced impacts of visitor activity – a total of 52,920 jobs (approximately one of every 18

jobs in Phoenix)

• Labor income impacts: Visitor activity generated $1.6 billion in direct labor income and a total of $2.7

billion, including indirect and induced impacts.

o There are five industries in which visitor activity supports $150 million or more in personal

income. These range from the obvious, food, beverage and lodging, to the less obvious – business

services, finance, insurance, and real estate, and education and health care.

o The $2.7 billion in total income generated by tourism is the equivalent of $4,623 for every

household in Phoenix.

• Tax impacts: Visitor spending generated $1.3 billion in government revenues in 2022, with state and local

taxes alone tallying $626 million.

o Tourism Economics estimates each household in Phoenix would need to be taxed an additional

$1,079 to replace the visitor-generated taxes received by state and local governments in 2022.

“As Phoenix continues to evolve, the power of travel continues to shine bright in the Sonoran Desert. With a

record 19.5 million visitors in 2022, the impacts of travel and tourism are vital to our local economy. The ripples

the industry makes in our city are so significant – with every visitor comes a potential new resident, a potential

new business, and overall, an investment in our future”, said Ron Price, President and CEO of Visit Phoenix.

“Phoenix is experiencing a true renaissance, and when we see all that travel and tourism does for our city, it

reveals what makes our destination such a special place”, Price continued.

About Visit Phoenix

 

Visit Phoenix’s mission is to promote the power of travel to elevate our communities and inspire our visitors. As a

non-profit organization that promotes Greater Phoenix and its communities as a must-experience destination to a

global audience of travelers, we cultivate and maintain relationships with convention and meeting planners,

journalists and influencers, travel agents and tour operators. Visit Phoenix brings business to Greater Phoenix that

would not otherwise come – from leisure visitors to group meetings, to mega-events – you name it, we bring it.

Through this, our region can compete in today’s globalized market for our share of the world’s consumers,

businesses, investment, capital and respect and attention. We’re a place that is defined by invention, big ideas

and personal discovery; as our city continues to evolve, the energy is palpable and more than anything, we want

to share it with all comers.