Seattle and King County saw a significant increase in tourism in 2024, welcoming 40 million visitors, a 5.3% rise from the previous year, as revealed during Visit Seattle’s Annual Meeting. Visitor spending reached an impressive $8.8 billion, resulting in $839 million in state and local taxes.
The statistics were unveiled at the Seattle Convention Center in conjunction with National Travel and Tourism Week, indicating that the region has achieved 95% of its visitor volume compared to 2019, with spending levels up by 8% from that year. The tourism sector supported over 68,000 jobs, reflecting a 4.9% increase from 2023, and contributed approximately $904 in taxes per household.
Visit Seattle also introduced its first set of comprehensive visitor profiles, detailing the demographics, travel habits, and spending patterns of tourists. These insights aim to assist local businesses in catering more effectively to domestic leisure travelers, a vital segment of the region’s tourism economy.
Canada continued to be the leading source of international visitors, with an estimated 1.7 million Canadians spending $584 million in 2024.
CEO Tammy Canavan emphasized the importance of monitoring international travel trends and highlighted ongoing investments in key growth areas, including cruises, conventions, and the Asian leisure market. Plans are also underway for a revamped marketing strategy, the integration of AI tools, and the launch of a mobile app.
As Seattle prepares to host matches for the FIFA World Cup 2026™, Visit Seattle announced plans to introduce a new Certified Tourism Ambassador program this year. The upcoming tournament is anticipated to generate nearly $1 billion in economic impact for the region.
