Visitors to Washington in 2006 spent more money per trip than in the previous year, according to a new report, although less people came to visit the national capital.
The Washington Convention and Tourism Corporation said visitors spent $5.24 billion in 2006, compared with $5 billion the previous year.
These visitors spent an average of $342 each, up from $312 in 2005. Tourist spending generated $564 million in tax revenue for the District, according to the corporation.
The number of people visiting the area, however, fell from 15.3 million in 2005 to 15.1 million last year.
Corporation spokeswoman Rebecca Pawlowski said this drop was due to a decrease in business travelers, as the number of people on corporate trips dropped from 7 million in 2005 to 5.8 million in 2006.
“We knew going in that 2006 was going to be a softer year for conventions,” she said. “We had a banner year for conventions in 2005, so seeing the business travel go down was not much of a shock.”
She said the corporation was encouraged with the increase in the number of tourists visiting Washington. In 2006, 8.1 million people visited the city, up from 7.1 million the previous year.
Pawlowski said the gain was due to increased efforts in consumer marketing.
“It’s positive news,” she said. “We’re attracting the right kind of tourists.”
Visitation in the coming years is expected to be stagnant. According to a report from consultant Global Insight, competition from cities such as New York, Philadelphia and Orlando, Fla., will eat at D.C.’s tourist base.
“The forecast shows how important it is that we step up our marketing efforts with additional resources,” corporation President and Chief Executive Officer William Hanbury said. “Although business travel declined in 2006 across the country and here in the nation’s capital, our investment in consumer marketing truly saved us.”
