(Iowa) — Tourism continues to be a multi-billion-dollar industry in Iowa.
Iowa saw a record-setting number of tourists visiting the state last year, and along with them, a multi billion-dollar boost to the state’s economy. New numbers from the Iowa Tourism Office show a record 46.3 million people visited Iowa in 2025, and with those visitors came an $11.3 billion dollar boost to the state’s economy.
That economic boost included $1.2 billion in state and local tax revenue, $2.6 billion in personal income for Iowans, and roughly $20.million dollars spent by tourists each day at Iowa hotels, restaurants, and attractions. The tourism industry supported 72,196 Iowa jobs in 2025, or 5.5% of the state’s total workforce.
Amy Zeigler, State Tourism Manager at the Iowa Tourism Office, says the momentum from the record-setting tourism in 2025 is continuing into this year: “Already, our hotel revenue in the state is up 11.3% compared to the same period in 2025. Short-term rental in our Airbnb space has increased 12.5% year-over-year, so we’re seeing really great momentum through the end of 2026.”
Numbers from the Iowa Tourism Office show a trend of tourism growth in Iowa going back to 2021. Visitor volume, visitor spending, and visitor-generated state and local tax revenue has all increased each year since 2021. More information on Iowa’s growing tourism industry and it’s economic impact last year is available on the Iowa Tourism Office website.