CASS COUNTY – A report from Travel Iowa shows food and beverage spending in Cass County was up $80,000 in 2023, although sales and lodging tax was slightly lower that year, according to a press release from Cass County Tourism Committee President Lora Kanning.
“Iowa had $7.3 billion in visitor spending means that approximately $20 million was spent EVERY DAY by visitors to Iowa,” Kanning said in the release. “Visitor Spending includes categories of Lodging, Food & Beverage, Recreation, Retail and Transportation. Cass County had $3.03 Million in Sales and Lodging tax collected in 2023. Cass County’s Food & Beverage spending was up $80,000 and was $3.8 million in 2023. Sales and Lodging tax collected in 2023 in Cass County were slightly lower, as well as our total growth rate overall for 2023 was 1% lower compared to 2022. Our Western Iowa Tourism Region share of the state for Economic Impact is 18%, and by spending category, we had a 19% share of the state.”
Kanning also said in the release that 2024 was also a good year for tourism in western Iowa, and she interested to see the results of that report.
“Our Cass County Tourism Committee’s goal is to continue our strong tourism trends in our western Iowa region. We had a great 2024 and look forward to that Tourism Annual report,” Kanning said. “In 2024. we unveiled water bottle stickers and postcards available at places like Cappel’s Ace Hardware, Homebody, and The Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce office.
Kanning said the group is focusing on marketing and finding easy ways to get information to visitors in 2025. That includes a new web site for tourism and an updated brochure.
“Our new webpage can be found (at) https://www.casscountyia.gov/county-departments/tourism/ and follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CassCountyIATourism. Our updated brochure will be finished in 2025 and housed at the website listed above.
Kanning also invited anyone interested in tourism to attend the committee’s meetings, which are held four times a year at 9 a.m. on the first Wednesday of February, May, August, and November.
“If you are interested in the future of Tourism in Cass County plan to attend the next Tourism Committee meeting, Wednesday, Feb. 5- 9 a.m.at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce Meeting room.
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