PROVIDENCE — A record 28 million people visited Rhode Island in 2023 — a more than 2 percent increase — as tourism continued to improve since the pandemic.
Ocean State tourists spent $5.6 billion last year, about $240 million more than in 2022, a 4.6 percent increase. It was fueled in part by spending on food and short-term rentals, according to statistics from Rhode Island Commerce released on Tuesday.
Food and beverage contributed $1.4 billion for the year, about a quarter of the total generated, a 5.6 percent improvement from the prior year, according to Rhode Island Commerce. Spending on lodging was at $1.2 billion, a little over 20 percent of the tourism dollars generated. Overall, tourism spending in the state is up $850 million from 2019, the year before the pandemic..
“This record achievement is proof that Rhode Island is truly “All That!” Governor Dan McKee said in a statement.
Rhode Island boasts a multifaceted and world class food scene, shaped by its diverse population. Earlier this year, 10 restaurants and chefs from the state were semifinalists in the 2024 James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards, often called the Oscars of the food world. Visitors also come to take advantage of the attractive sailing available in places like Newport. The coastal city is also host to the Newport Jazz Festival, the country’s first outdoor jazz event, that attracts about 10,000 people every summer.
Visitors to the state prioritized “experiential spending” above things like retail, according to the state’s Commerce Department. Tourism was responsible for more than 86,000 jobs, they said.
At a regional level, Providence led the growth in the number of visitors jumping nearly 5 percent to 7.5 million compared to the year before. Tourists spent more than $1.3 billion in the city, up from a little under $1.2 billion in 2022. Newport saw the highest total number of visitors at more than 8.6 million, which was a tad below the previous year’s numbers, data showed.
“The economic activity generated from the travel sector represents a critical component of the state’s current and future growth,” said Anika Kimble-Huntley, chief marketing officer at Rhode Island Commerce.
Omar Mohammed can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter (X) @shurufu.
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