The Iowa Tourism Office reported that in 2025, 46.3-million visitors spent 7.6-billion-dollars which generated 1.2-billion dollars in state and local taxes. The impact was not just strong at the state level, it was also felt locally. Cass County Tourism Council President Lora Kanning said Cass County saw travel-generated expenditures of 16.6-million dollars. The numbers take into account things like lodging and food, but visitors spent an increased amount on recreation.
Kanning says we have great parks and facilities, but it’s also up to us to be welcoming.
Kanning says that shows in the way people flock to our community events.
With hotel and short-term rental booking revenue up more than ten percent statewide in the early part of this year, Kanning says the future brings room for growth.
The numbers show that tourism sustained more than 72-thousand jobs in Iowa, including 104 in Cass County.
