JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville is rapidly gaining recognition as a popular tourist destination, with many visitors expressing a strong desire to return to the River City.
According to a report conducted by Tallahassee-based Downs & St. Germain Research, fiscal year 2024 witnessed over 8 million visitors coming to Jacksonville, boosting the local economy by $7.4 billion.
The report, which surveyed over 2,700 respondents about their experiences, revealed that over 80% of visitors plan to return to Jacksonville in the future.
Data from the survey focused on hotel revenue. In 2024, nearly 5 million guest rooms were sold in Jacksonville’s hotels, resulting in over $31 million in bed tax collections.
According to Visit Jacksonville, this supported over 56,000 jobs and generated nearly $2.8 billion in wages.
The top five origination markets for visitors to Jacksonville were Orlando-Daytona, New York City, Atlanta, Tampa-St. Pete and Miami-Ft. Lauderdale.
A significant portion of visitors came to the area to visit family and friends, with the median age of visitors being around 41 years old.
Tourist spending was substantial, with total expenditures exceeding $4 billion. This spending encompassed accommodations, transportation, groceries, restaurants, shopping, entertainment and other expenses.
The survey interviews between Oct. 1, 2023, and Sept. 30, 2024, were conducted both online and in person at various locations, including Jacksonville International Airport, local events, beaches and downtown areas.
The data also indicates that visitors provided an ease on local taxes, saving Duval County residents an estimated $540 in taxes per household for 2024.
