2024 Tourism Economic Impact Report: Kewaunee County & Wisconsin Statewide Highlights

Posted June 19, 2025

In Community, Employment, Fishing, Tourism, Travel

2024 Tourism Economic Impact Report
Kewaunee County & Wisconsin Statewide Highlights
Prepared by: Algoma Area Chamber of Commerce

Kewaunee County: Helping Grow Wisconsin’s Tourism Economy

In 2024, Kewaunee County contributed $52 million to Wisconsin’s tourism economy, marking its part in the state’s third consecutive year of record-breaking tourism growth. This represents a 1.1% year-over-year increase for our county and highlights the continued importance of local tourism-driven efforts in strengthening our community and the state at large.

Statewide Tourism Impact – 2024

Total Economic Impact: $25.8 billion (↑ 3.3% from 2023)
- That’s $70.7 million in tourism-generated impact per day across Wisconsin.
Total Visits: 114.4 million — an all-time record, surpassing the 2019 pre-pandemic peak.
Employment: Tourism supported 182,000 jobs (full- and part-time) in diverse industries.
Tax Revenue: $1.7 billion generated in state and local taxes.
- This offsets the need for each Wisconsin household to contribute an additional $678 in taxes to maintain the same level of public services.

Understanding Tourism’s Full Economic Impact

Tourism’s impact goes beyond what visitors spend directly.

Direct Visitor Spending: Retail, lodging, restaurants, attractions, transportation.
Indirect Impact: The supply chain — goods and services purchased by tourism businesses.
Induced Impact: Employee wages spent in the local economy.

Formula:

Direct + Indirect + Induced Impacts = Total Economic Impact

This cumulative effect is what fuels communities like Algoma and regions like Kewaunee County.

Algoma’s Unique Contribution

Though visitation data cannot be reliably broken down to a city level, Algoma’s consistent ability to attract visitors is well recognized:

Shanty Days serves as a flagship tourism event for Kewaunee County, drawing visitors from across Wisconsin and beyond.
Charter Fishing is a keystone industry for our local tourism industry.
Algoma’s vibrant arts scene is on display during First Fridays.
Events like the Kewaunee County Christmas Stroll help maintain economic activity and community engagement during the off-season.
Soar on the Shore is a free event that brings hundreds of families to Crescent Beach each year. These families eat, shop, and stay in Algoma and the surrounding area.

Strategic Drivers of Growth

Marketing Matters: Data-driven, efficient marketing positioned Wisconsin as a top-of-mind destination.
Year-Round Appeal: Increases in visitation across all four seasons, including winter.
Visitor Experience: People are choosing Wisconsin — and increasingly Algoma specifically — to make lifelong travel memories.

Outlook for 2025

While 2024 was historic, the 2025 outlook remains cautiously optimistic.
Summer travel will be critical to continuing momentum.
Visitation has surpassed pre-pandemic levels — future growth may stabilize, but Algoma remains an ideal memory-making destination.
Continued efforts will be made to monitor travel trends and support local tourism operators.

International Visitors: A Welcome Opportunity

Most of Wisconsin’s tourism revenue is driven domestically, but Wisconsin’s offerings — especially Algoma’s unique art galleries, abundant access to water, and natural beauty — remain attractive to international visitors.
With the right messaging, our region can continue expanding its global appeal.

The Benefits of Film Tax Incentives

Wisconsin is gaining economic opportunities by supporting film production incentives:

A major motion picture spends $670,000/day while filming.
The recent Christmas movie filmed in Door County will inject roughly 60% of its $1M budget locally.
Top Chef brought $1.3M in costs to Wisconsin and generated $1.5M in hotel bookings in Milwaukee within six months of airing.

Without incentives, we’re swinging at a major-league curveball with a toothpick.

Pandemic Recovery: A Milestone Reached

Wisconsin’s tourism industry has not just recovered — it has exceeded pre-pandemic levels.
Three consecutive record-breaking years show resilience, innovation, and strong community involvement.
Kewaunee County’s $52M impact is proof of local strength and determination.

Final Thoughts

The commitment of our businesses, the passion of our community, and the beauty of our region make us a magnet for memories.

As we look forward, we remain focused on showcasing everything that makes Algoma and Kewaunee County a destination worth returning to, time and again.

Prepared by the Algoma Area Chamber of Commerce
Using information provided by Travel Wisconsin