(Atlantic, Iowa) – Cass County Tourism Officials says the Annual report from Travel Iowa for 2023 was recently released. The report shows Iowa had $7.3 billion in visitor spending, which means that approximately $20 million was spent EVERY DAY by visitors to Iowa. 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. The Western Iowa Tourism Region share of the state for Economic Impact is 18%, and by spending category the area had a 19% share of the state.

Cass County Tourism Committee’s goal is to continue strong tourism trends in the western Iowa region. Officials say “We had a great 2024 and look forward to that Tourism Annual report. We [remain] focused on marketing and ease of visitor information. These goals wrap into 2025 for our Cass County Tourism Committee.”

A new webpage can be found here https://www.casscountyia.gov/county-departments/tourism/ and you can follow Cass County Tourism on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CassCountyIATourism . In 2024 CCT unveiled water bottle stickers and postcards available at places like Cappel’s Ace Hardware, Homebody, and the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce office. An updated brochure will be finished in 2025 and housed at the website listed mentioned above.

Cass County Tourism Committee meets 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 please plan to attend the next Tourism Committee meeting, Wednesday February 5^th at 9-a.m., in the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce Meeting room.

Additional details: Cass Econ Imp 2023   WITR Econ Imp 2023 pp1-10-1