Destination DC (DDC) today announced a record 22.8 million total visitors to the nation’s capital in 2017, up 3.6% over 2016. Elliott L. Ferguson, II, president and CEO of Destination DC, confirmed the banner year for DC’s tourism industry at the organization’s annual Marketing Outlook Meeting held at Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium with city leaders, stakeholders and local tourism and hospitality businesses.
"نوابشاهه، ڊپٽي ڪمشنر welcomed 20.8 million domestic visitors last year, up 4.2%, and 2 million overseas visitors, up 2.5%,” said Ferguson. “We’ve seen eight years of consecutive growth. At the end of the day, what we do to attract visitors is economic development, resulting in 7.5 ارب $ spent by travelers.”
n 2017, tourism directly supported 75,048 DC jobs, up 0.5% over 2016 and exceeding 75,000 for the first time since 2013. According to IHS Markit, domestic and international spending was up 3.1% and surpassed $7 billion for the third time. Business travel accounted for 41% of visitation and 60% of spending. Leisure spending increased by 5.9% and business spending was up 1.3%.
“Growing tourism is good for local business and good for Washingtonians,” said Mayor Muriel E. Bowser. “When visitors choose DC – when they dine out in our restaurants, stay in our hotels, and visit our local neighborhoods – we’re able to spread prosperity and build more pathways to the middle class for residents across all eight wards.”
DDC also announced plans to sustain the momentum of an uptick in visitation by previewing a new advertising campaign called “Discover the Real DC” under its five-year-old “DC Cool” brand. To create the campaign, DDC worked with Destination Analysts on custom research in its target domestic markets along the East Coast corridor as well as جنون ۽ لاس اينجلس. Eight personas of the visitors likely to visit DC emerged from live interviews and surveys of thousands of consumers.
The personas include: the Eclectic Cultural Traveler, specifically interested in the arts; خانداني مسافر looking for family education and fun; the Cool Crowd, prioritizing trendy destinations with social media buzz;African-American History Buffs, attracted to destinations with a strong African-American historical significance; ايل بي آر ٽيڪ, travelers identifying as LGBTQ and for whom a LGBTQ-friendly urban destination is key; کاڌو, who seek a notable restaurant scene and celebrity chefs; Political Junkies, attracted to destinations with political significance and want to experience where history is made; and راندين جا شوقين, intrigued by world-class sports when identifying potential destinations.
“The research allows us to be more nimble with our marketing and speak directly to the interests of consumers,” said Robin A. McClain, senior vice president, marketing and communications, DDC. “نوابشاهه، ڊپٽي ڪمشنر has the experiences visitors are looking for, whether it’s history, a diverse and welcoming atmosphere or a buzzy Michelin-rated dining scene.”
Looking at overseas visitation, چين continues to be DC’s top market with 324,000 visitors, up 6.6% over 2016. In FY2019, DDC will continue to grow its presence on WeChat and its City Experience Mini Program, as well as its Welcome China member certification program.
The top 10 overseas markets for نوابشاهه، ڊپٽي ڪمشنر in 2017 are, in order of visitation: چين, برطانيه, جرمني, ڏکڻ ڪوريا, فرانس, آسٽريليا, انڊيا, جاپان, اسپين ۽ اٽلي. Though overseas visitors represent 9% of the total number of visitors to DC, international visitors [overseas visitors plus visitors from ڪينيڊا ۽ ميڪسيڪو] represent 27% of the visitor spending.
“While we were thrilled to see growth in overseas visitation, we are faced with certain realities about the political climate and how the U.S. is perceived from a global perspective,” said Ferguson. “That’s why we’re doing everything we can to welcome the global community and increase our representation internationally in established and emerging markets.”
In 2019, DC will welcome 21 citywide conventions and special events (2,500 room nights on peak and above), generating 359,557 total room nights and an estimated economic impact of 341 $ لک. Major events include the American Academy of Dermatology (مارچ 1-5), NAFSA: Association of International Educators (مئي 28-31), American Institute of Aeronautics & Astronautics (آڪٽوبر 21-25) and American Society of Nephrology (نومبر 8-11).
نوابشاهه، ڊپٽي ڪمشنر welcomes new flights and hotel inventory to encourage visitation in the year ahead. New nonstop air service into Dulles International Airport launches from London Stansted (وڳي. 22) ۽ برسلز(جون 2، 2019) on Primera Air, هانگ ڪانگ on Cathay Pacific (سيپٽمبر) ۽تل Aviv on United (مئي 22، 2019). There are 21 hotels in the pipeline adding 4,764 rooms to the city, including Eaton Workshop and the Moxyنوابشاهه، ڊپٽي ڪمشنر Downtown, both anticipated to open this summer.
New attractions, renovations and exhibits are a draw. The National Law Enforcement Museum opens آڪٽوبر. 13. In 2019, citywide programming will surround the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote. The International Spy Museum moves to L’Enfant Plaza and reopens next spring. The Washington Monument reopens next spring and the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History’s “Fossil Hall” reopens in June. The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts’ expansion (The REACH) opens سيپٽمبر. 7، 2019.
For more development highlights, visit واشنگٽن. org.
