Tourism Works for the Tri-Cities
The Tri-Cities plays host to thousands of leisure travelers, convention and sports delegates, and other visitors every year. Tourism's impact on the Tri-Cities is phenomenal. Visitor spending creates jobs and tax revenues and contributes to infrastructure improvements, as well as the overall quality of life.
Visitor & Tourism Impacts (Source: Tourism Economics, 2022)
- Visitors to the Tri-Cities spent $594.7 million in 2022.
- Travel-related employment totaled 5,706 jobs in Benton and Franklin Counties.
- Visitors spent $136.7 million on retail shopping and $134.1 million in eating and drinking establishments.
- Travel in Benton and Franklin Counties generated local and state tax receipts totaling $74.2 million in 2022.
Tri-Cities Hotel & Industry Facts
Most visitors to the Tri-Cities are following the rules of Staycations and traveling short distances-primarily from the Puget Sound area. However, with direct flights available from Seattle, San Francisco, Salt Lake City, Denver, Portland, Minneapolis and Mesa/Phoenix, Visit Tri-Cities will pursue markets that have not been included in previous marketing efforts.
- Hotels, Motels, and B & B's - There are more than 40 lodging facilities and over 4,191 guest rooms to choose from in the Tri-Cities.
- Wineries - Known as the Heart of Washington Wine Country with more than 200 wineries located within a one-hour drive.
- Golf Courses - More than ten courses are located within 20 minutes of each other. Professionally designed courses, target courses, Par 3 courses, and course that is rated 4.5 stars by Golf Digest.
- Hanford Reach National Monument - The Reach is the only free-flowing, non-tidal stretch of the Columbia River remaining in the United States. Just north of Richland, this 51-mile stretch of unbridled river flows through a spectacular landscape of white bluffs, dunes, and desert plateaus and offers wildlife watchers endless opportunities for viewing.
- Conventions & Sports Tournaments - The Tri-Cities In 2018, the Tri-Cities hosted 212 conventions, sports, and group activities worth more than $38.1 million in direct spending; bringing 127,931 people to meetings, tournaments, and group events.
