Power of Travel 2

 

The Sun, the Sea, & the Economy:

Tourism is Making Waves in Corpus Christi

Tourism is critical to our local economy and Visit Corpus Christi is committed to driving the region’s economic recovery through tourism. Our visitors support businesses and jobs while enhancing the quality of life for locals and visitors alike.  

With over 9.7 million visitors annually, Corpus Christi is the most visited regional destination, and Corpus Christi tourism is identified as the 2nd largest industry for community economic development. Not only do visitors come to explore, but they also come to spend money in our local businesses, hotels, and restaurants, contributing more than $1.4 billion. This generates funds that help build a better place for us to live, work, and play. 

 

An infographic about the percentage of government operations funded by tourism profits.

The Economic Impact

Of Tourism In Corpus Christi 

The revenue brought in by tourism also creates job opportunities. Tourism employs more than 28,000 people in Corpus Christi, with the hospitality industry being one of the largest sectors in the city. The amount of sales tax revenues paid annually by visitors is enough to cover the budgets of 57% of the police department, or 73% of the fire department, or 75% of city road repairs and maintenance.

If we had no tourism, we wouldn’t be able to enjoy unique experiences such as dining at Doc’s Seafood and Steaks while watching the Laguna Madre sunset, taking a family trip to experience the Texas State Aquarium, or even ordering oysters on the half shell at Water Street Oyster Bar. In fact, without tourism, each local household would need to spend an additional $12,590 annually at local establishments. That’s the equivalent of 4,000 more gallons of gas, 3,900 more breakfast tacos, or 8,000 more Topo Chicos bought by each household to sustain the current local economy.  

Type that says "That's the power of travel".

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GET FEATURED ON OUR PAGE

See a shiny sign popping up around town? For National Travel and Tourism Week, we've placed QR codes around the city to help locals learn about the direct impact tourism has on our community! If you see one, post it and tag #TravelForward for a chance to be featured.