Study: Tourism contributes $1.6 billion to Lake County economy

HAMMOND | The tourism and travel industry infused the Lake County economy with $1.62 billion in 2010. That's according to an economic impact study the South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority released Thursday.

That's up from $1.34 billion in 2001 and represents an average increase in spending of about 2.2 percent per year, tourism bureau President and CEO Spero Batistatos said of the study conducted by Certec Inc., of Versailles, Ky.

Calling these "super numbers" to piggyback on Sunday's Super Bowl game in Indianapolis, Batistatos said the effect is felt in terms of taxes collected by federal, state and county governments as well as in jobs.

Tourism generated nearly $651.3 million in tax revenue during 2010. Of that, $178.2 million was in federal taxes, $324.2 million went to the state and $148.7 million went to Lake County, he said during a Thursday news conference.

Nearly 14,000 jobs in Lake County are part of the tourism and travel industry, representing 7 percent of all jobs in the county in 2010. One-third of those positions are high-paying occupations, Batistatos said. Those tourism-generated jobs provided more than $247.7 million in wages to Lake County workers, he said.

Of the $1.6 billion generated in Lake County, $1.4 billion was "brought in by other people from other areas," Batistatos said. "That's found money."

Lake County residents spent another $39 million with the local tourism industry, helping to create 598 jobs, the study said.

The figures were only for Lake County. However, Batistatos said, tourism requires a coordinated effort throughout Northwest Indiana.

"The visitor doesn't know where the county lines are. Money doesn't know where the county lines are," he said.

Tourism dollars have an indirect benefit, too, said Mark Maasel, president and CEO of the Northwest Indiana Forum.

"The economic benefits to Lake County are widespread," he said at the news conference. "(Tourism) helps support dozens of local businesses such as banking, insurance and real estate; transportation and public utilities; construction; agriculture; and manufacturing."

Although the economic impact news was good, Batistatos said, the 2.2 percent annual increase is an average of totals from 2001 to 2010. The downturn in the economy has played havoc with tourism in Northwest Indiana since 2008.

"From 2001 to 2007, we did really well. I can't underscore how bad the last three years have been. It's been brutal," he said.

In Lake County, hotels had a 60 percent occupancy rate in 2011. Porter County posted a 42 percent occupancy rate, while LaPorte County was at 35 percent.

To help counter those trends, Lake County's tourism team works year-round to bring more visitors to the South Shore with conventions and sporting events, Batistatos said.