New Orleans visitor numbers best in nearly 10 years

New Orleans’ tourism industry welcomed 9.01 million visitors in 2012, numbers not seen by the city in nearly 10 years. Total visitor numbers increased by 3% or 255,027 from the number of visitors in 2011 (8.75 million.) The 9.01 million visitors spent US$6 billion, a 9% or US$512 million increase over 2011 and the highest spending in the city’s history, according to a study released this week. The city’s best year ever was 2004, a record-breaking year, with 10.1 million visitors. After Katrina, visitor numbers dropped to 3.7 million in 2006. Mayor Mitch Landrieu commented, “The continued growth of both visitor numbers and spending is a reflection of the hard work of our hospitality industry. I feel confident that we will continue the upward trajectory as we work toward the goal of welcoming 13 million visitors by 2018.”All key indicators increased in 2012, compared to 2011: Lodging spending increased by 17%; Restaurant spending increased by 9%; Spending in bars and nightclubs jumped by 10.4%; Entertainment/recreation increased by 9%; 76.1% of visitors surveyed were in New Orleans for vacation/pleasure; 13.8% of visitors surveyed were in New Orleans for association, convention, tradeshow or corporate meetings; 10.1% of visitors surveyed were in town for general business; 58% of business travellers extended their stay for pleasure for an average of 2.1 nights; Cruise visitors comprised about 1.7% of the total number of visitor responses, and they stayed an average of two nights in New Orleans before or after their cruise. The 2012 New Orleans Area Visitor Profile report also found that 41.1% of visitors were in town for the first time; 58.9% were repeat visitors. (http://www.neworleanscvb.com)