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Gov. Evers, Department of Tourism Announce Wisconsin Tourism Sees Another Record-Breaking Year

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Gov. Evers, Department of Tourism Announce Wisconsin Tourism Sees Another Record-Breaking Year


MADISON, Wis. (OFFICE OF GOVERNOR TONY EVERS PRESS RELEASE) – Gov. Tony Evers today, together with Wisconsin Department of Tourism Secretary Anne Sayers, announced Wisconsin’s tourism industry saw another record-breaking year in 2023. According to 2023 economic impact data, the tourism industry generated $25 billion in total economic impact, surpassing the previous record year of $23.7 billion set in 2022.

“Wisconsin has so much to offer, from waterslides to watersports, hiking trails to contrails, and world-champion sports teams to world-champion cheese, so it’s no wonder we’ve seen yet another record-breaking year for Wisconsin tourism for the second year in a row,” said Gov. Evers. “These numbers show what an important role our tourism economy plays in our state’s economic success. And this didn’t happen by chance—this happens because of the hardworking folks in this critical industry who work day in and day out to make sure visitors enjoy their time here and come back year after year. We’ve been proud to help support their good work by making smart, strategic investments over the last several years to support Wisconsin’s tourism industry, and our hard work together is clearly paying off.”

In 2023, Wisconsin saw a $25 billion total economic impact, an increase of 5.4 percent from the previous year, welcomed 113 million visits—nearly two million more than the previous year, and saw the highest-ever overnight visits, with nearly 46 million overnight visits last year. This is the second consecutive year of record-breaking overnight visitation. What’s more, overnight visitors, on average, spend almost three times as much as day-trip visitors.

In total, in 2023, all 72 Wisconsin counties saw economic impact growth, and the industry supported more than 178,000 part-time and full-time jobs across various sectors, which is an increase of two percent and generated $1.6 billion in state and local tax revenue, up 5.8 percent from 2022.

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“Wisconsin tourism powers the economy and strengthens the fabric of communities of all sizes,” said Wisconsin Tourism Secretary Sayers. “The historic impact of tourism reached every corner of Wisconsin and, in doing so, sustained livelihoods for thousands of our friends and neighbors.”

Bolstered by funds provided in the 2019-21 and 2021-23 state budgets signed by Gov. Evers, Travel Wisconsin marketed the state as a premier travel destination in 2023, running advertising campaigns throughout the year. The campaigns, which celebrate Wisconsin’s welcoming nature and celebratory spirit, reached visitors in 12 Midwestern markets.

In addition, the 2023-25 biennial budget signed by Gov. Evers invested approximately $34 million over the biennium to raise Wisconsin’s profile across the country as a premier business, cultural, and recreational destination. This is the largest increase in marketing and advertising funds for the Wisconsin Department of Tourism in state history, and with this investment, the department will be able to run a competitive marketing campaign and keep pace with neighboring states.

Further, this exciting announcement comes as, last month, Gov. Evers and the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) requested the release of $10 million in already-approved funding for the Opportunity Attraction and Promotion Fund created in the 2023-25 biennial budget signed by Gov. Evers to continue Wisconsin’s recent success in recruiting and hosting large-scale events, such as the 2020 Democratic National Convention, the 2021 Ryder Cup, the 2024 Republican National Convention, and the 2025 NFL draft. The Evers Administration submitted a formal s. 13.10 request to the Republican-controlled Joint Committee on Finance to release the $10 million investment. The Republican supermajority on the committee decided to release just $5 million, only half of the amount approved in the biennial budget.

Additionally, last November, Gov. Evers also announced $36.6 million in grants for building projects across the state in Janesville, Milwaukee, Green Bay, and Door County that were previously rejected by members of the Wisconsin State Legislature in the 2023-25 Capital Budget process. The governor’s investment is projected to support over 400 jobs and nearly $68 million in economic activity. The effort, funded using American Rescue Plan Act funds, will ensure the projects can move forward and build upon Gov. Evers’ and the Evers Administration’s strategic investments that will have long-term impacts on the state’s tourism industry, workforce, and economy.

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Since 2020, Gov. Evers has directed investments totaling more than $1 billion of Wisconsin’s federal pandemic relief funds in economic resilience, and more than $200 million of that total was invested in the travel and tourism, hotels and lodging, and entertainment industries alone.

The Native Nations of Wisconsin also play a critical role in enriching the state’s tourism industry offerings and attracting travelers to the state. Because Tribal tourism data is private, the total economic impact of Tribal tourism is not wholly reflected in this report.

To learn more about Wisconsin tourism’s record-breaking year, view the 2023 economic data, including a county-by-county breakdown, visit: industry.travelwisconsin.com/research/economic-impact.



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Wisconsin

Have a question about the Wisconsin football team after the win over Purdue? Ask Mark Stewart.

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Have a question about the Wisconsin football team after the win over Purdue? Ask Mark Stewart.


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MADISON – Wisconsin’s 52-6 victory over Purdue on Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium extended the Badgers’ winning streak over the Boilermakers to 18.

It also provided the team with some much-needed momentum following losses to Alabama and USC.

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What impressed you most about the performance? What concerns do you still have? Can UW duplicate this performance on the road at Rutgers?

The Journal Sentinel’s Mark Stewart is here to answer your questions.

You can ask your question in the survey below and Mark will round up a selection of them to answer and post them on Monday.

If you can’t see the survey in your browser, click here

More: Trech Kekahuna has long-awaited breakout game for Badgers

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More: Wisconsin football insider: Why the win over Purdue is a good sign for the Badgers



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UPDATE: Wisconsin star WR Will Pauling returns to game vs. Purdue after early injury

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UPDATE: Wisconsin star WR Will Pauling returns to game vs. Purdue after early injury


This story was updated to add new information.

Wisconsin star receiver Will Pauling injured his right leg early in the second quarter of the Badgers’ Week 6 game against Purdue.

Pauling went down while trying to make a play on a 3rd-down pass from QB Braedyn Locke. The ball was eventually intercepted by Purdue DB Kyndrich Breedlove. Pauling was carried off the field after the turnover, unable to bear much weight on his right leg.

Wisconsin’s wide receiver room took several hits early against Purdue, as veteran Bryson Green also left the game early with a lower-body injury.

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Here is the sequence that led to Pauling’s departure:

Pauling emerged from the blue medical tent a short time later and has since been seen riding a stationary bike on the sideline. Big Ten Network reports that he is questionable to return to the game.

Wisconsin currently leads Purdue 14-3 with less than nine minutes left in the first half. The Badgers have 73 passing yards, thanks in large part to a 52-yard touchdown strike from Locke to WR Vinny Anthony.

We will monitor any further updates on the status of Pauling as the game continues. Thus far, he appears to have avoided a significant injury.

UPDATE (1:17 p.m. ET): Will Pauling returned to the game with two minutes remaining before halftime

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes, and opinion.

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Opinion: Clerks from both parties uphold WI election integrity. You can be confident voting.

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Opinion: Clerks from both parties uphold WI election integrity. You can be confident voting.



Election clerks from both parties working to ensure all votes count fairly.

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Election Day is just one month away.

Voters here in Wisconsin will have a real opportunity to make their voices heard in November. New legislative maps are finally in place, ending the long reign of gerrymandered districts that gave Republicans their disproportionate hold on power for more than a decade.

The GOP’s concentrated power led to policies that hurt working families and undermined abortion rights in our state. It also fueled the illegal — and frankly, embarrassing — efforts by Republicans to overturn the 2020 presidential election and to restrict our voting rights.

Unfortunately, those efforts continue today. Donald Trump continues to lie about the integrity of our elections and has threatened to make voting harder, and even to jail his opponents, if he wins.

Wisconsin clerks working tirelessly to ensure all votes cast count

Hundreds of clerks here in Wisconsin — Republicans and Democrats — have been working tirelessly to ensure that when you cast your ballot this year, it will count.  These election workers are your neighbors and friends, who want nothing more than to carry out a fair and secure election. 

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When you go to cast your ballot this year, you’ll have the opportunity to do so early in-person, by absentee ballot, or at your polling location on Election Day. And, thanks to a recent Wisconsin Supreme Court decision, callous efforts to prohibit the use of secure ballot drop boxes across Wisconsin have been stopped. Drop boxes help folks who have trouble getting to the polls, like those who are disabled or elderly, have a convenient option to cast their ballot. Unfortunately, some communities in Wisconsin are choosing to forgo their use this election, so make sure to plan ahead.

Thankfully, over the last few years, our governor has been able to stop right-wing bills and efforts to restrict voting rights from becoming law.  But bad actors who want to subvert our elections have not stopped there.

They’ve used the fires of doubt that they themselves lit to justify these efforts — and they’re likely to try it again if they win in November. Republicans continue to raise questions about the legitimacy of our elections by spreading falsehoods about noncitizens voting, even though such voting is already illegal in Wisconsin.

Judging from the past, there’s no telling what radical-right majorities in the legislature might try if Wisconsin voters don’t give them the outcome they want. Republican lawmakers could challenge the legitimate vote count in court, try to derail the certification process, or even try to throw out votes.

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Why it’s not unusual for results to not be known election night

When in doubt, get your information from trusted sources like your local election official. We may not know the results on election night, as it sometimes takes several days to count every ballot.  This is part of the normal counting process.

Are we ‘Ready For It?’ Taylor Swift endorsement causes voter registration surge.

Above all the noise this election cycle, remember this: you can make a difference by voting in resounding numbers for the kind of leaders you want to represent you. Here’s how: Make sure your voter registration is up to date, and if you haven’t registered already, do so now at MyVote.WI.gov. Find out the rules for how, where and when to vote, and have a plan to vote. If you vote absentee, make sure to include a witness signature on your ballot to ensure your vote is counted, and get it in the mail so it arrives before Election Day.  

When we work together and participate in our democracy, we can build a better state and a stronger country.

Be informed, be patient on Election Day, and above all, vote.

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Greta Neubauer, D-Racine, is the Assembly minority leader.



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