Travel and tourism is booming in Cleveland

David Gilbert at Destination Cleveland annual meeting

(Cleveland) - Destination Cleveland, the only organization in Cuyahoga County responsible for growing the travel and tourism industry, held its annual meeting today. 

President David Gilbert says the travel and tourism industry is booming in northeast Ohio. 

Currently about 18 million travelers visit Cleveland annually. They are pumping billions of dollars into the community. 

Dan Walsh, chairman of the organization's Board of Directors says jobs are held in the tourism industry by residents in nearly every neighborhood in Cuyahoga County, and the number is growing. 

Cuyahoga County Councilman Jack Schron tells Newsradio WTAM 1100, that lawmakers should consider raising the bed tax, to provide more marketing funding for Destination Cleveland. 

The organization wants to attract 20 million visitors to Cleveland by the year 2020. Dave Johnson of the Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland would like to see more residents and retail downtown, feeling that might convince more tourists to live here. 

There's even more good news about Cleveland as a vacation destination. Our region has made the top 50 choice vacation spots, according to the 2nd annual Vacation Destinations Study of North America by Expedia Viewfinder. 

Over 4,600 different locations were examined, with the CLE coming in at number 32! Site like the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Lake Erie Shoreline and downtown nightlife played a factor.

(Photos by Ken Robinson/WTAM)

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