Oregon tourism industry recovers to pre-pandemic levels

PORTLAND, Ore. (KPTV) - It is National Travel and Tourism Week and, according to Travel Oregon, the state’s travel industry is booming.

Travel Oregon says the amount of money people spent on travel las year was $14 billion. That boost to the economy created 2,180 new jobs in the state.

The travel agency says it is relieved to have finally rebounded from the pandemic.

“Seemingly overnight, when the pandemic hit, the travel industry lost 25,000 jobs. It feels really good to see we have fully recovered those jobs as of this year,” said Julia Amato, Director of Communications for Travel Oregon.

Not only are their more jobs in the travel industry now, there are also higher paying jobs. Employee earnings within the travel industry rose to $4.5 billion in 2023, a 6.9% increase from the previous year.

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The largest increase in spending came in the food service sector, with tourists spending $197 million last year.

Those numbers reflect not only visitors to Oregon but Oregonians exploring the state themselves.

Travel Oregon says international travel has yet to recover from the pandemic. International visitors accounted for 4% of spending in 2023, which is down from 10% in 2019.