Leaders say tourism is massive in Michigan with visitors spending more than $30 billion last year, supporting more than 350,000 jobs.
Jen Sistrunk, Executive Director of Visit South Haven, emphasized tourism as a step toward community development.
“We love to say that if you build a place where people want to visit, you build a place where people want to live, and I think through travel, we really invite people to come experience our communities, and hopefully at some point they will choose to call it home.”
Despite concern that higher gas prices might lead to fewer trips this summer, Travel Michigan’s Nick Nerbonne believes the state may benefit.
“We think Michigan has an advantage there. We are a wonderful road trip state. We have great destinations that are accessible with less than a tank of gas from all over the Midwest.”
Nerbonne expects that much like when Michigan’s average gas price hit a record high in June 2022, travelers from major metro areas like Detroit and Chicago will prioritize shorter drives to walkable lakeshore communities, often spending more at their destinations even when fuel costs are high.
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