D.C. welcomed almost 6 million extra guests final 12 months than in 2020, an indication that persons are on the transfer and desirous to journey. It’s additionally a stark reminder of the challenges the nation’s capital faces because it seeks to rebuild a tourism economic system reeling from the worldwide pandemic.
Washington, D.C
D.C. sees a boost in visitors, but full recovery remains elusive
Vacationers spent $5.4 billion within the metropolis, in response to estimates from Vacation spot DC, which supported almost 58,000 native jobs. As cities throughout the nation compete for a similar tourism {dollars}, native officers stated D.C. have to be aggressive about advertising and marketing the town whereas incorporating altering journey habits amid the pandemic.
“It’s clear that we’re targeted on getting again to regular,” stated Elliott L. Ferguson II, Vacation spot DC’s govt director. “There are numerous indicators that provide you with a way that issues are coming again on-line.”
Vacation spot DC is projecting that tourism will proceed to extend this 12 months. It credit an increase in conventions, widespread vaccinations and extra curiosity in journey.
Whereas an enchancment, the 2021 numbers illustrate how far D.C. nonetheless has to go. In 2019, earlier than the pandemic, 24.6 million individuals visited the town, which generated $8.2 billion and supported 79,675 jobs. The variety of guests final 12 months is simply greater than three-quarters of 2019 ranges.
Ferguson made the announcement Wednesday throughout an annual Vacation spot DC assembly on the newly re-christened Waldorf Astoria Washington DC, one in every of a number of lodges which have opened or been renovated throughout the pandemic. It was beforehand the Trump Worldwide Lodge; former president Donald Trump earlier this 12 months bought his authorities lease for the property to CGI Service provider Group for $375 million.
Journey trade officers stated native tourism progress plans contain concentrating on worldwide guests, who are likely to spend extra. Earlier than the pandemic, worldwide guests made up about 7 p.c of vacationers to the nation’s capital however spent 27 p.c of all tourism {dollars} within the metropolis.
The top of a 33-nation ban in November that barred most non-U.S. residents from visiting the nation has proved to be a boon for the journey trade, as was the Biden administration’s determination to finish a requirement that worldwide vacationers present proof of a unfavorable coronavirus take a look at earlier than flying. On the similar time, staffing shortages this 12 months have prompted flight delays and cancellations in the USA and Europe, forcing airways to trim their schedules. Different segments of the journey trade, together with lodges and eating places, are equally battling discovering sufficient staff.
Geoff Freeman, the incoming president and CEO of the U.S. Journey Affiliation, stated that all through the pandemic, the trade has achieved “a very good job with a nasty hand.” He estimated that $1 trillion in journey spending has been misplaced nationwide because of dampened enthusiasm for the reason that begin of the pandemic.
“With a concerted effort to deal with at the moment’s head winds — together with slow-to-return enterprise journey and government-induced obstacles for worldwide guests — we’re assured that Washington, D.C., and the nation can obtain a full restoration,” he stated.
Regardless of the journey slowdown, native tourism officers say the area has laid the groundwork for a restoration.
Ferguson stated the second section of the Wharf improvement is ready to open this fall. Throughout the town, no less than 26 new lodges or renovations are within the pipeline, which is able to add about 5,900 new or improved rooms. The current One thing within the Water competition in downtown Washington over the Juneteenth weekend is one other instance of the town’s efforts to broaden occasion choices, Ferguson stated.
Throughout the Potomac River, officers at Reagan Nationwide Airport final 12 months opened a brand new 14-gate concourse, changing Gate 35X, an notorious bottleneck that required passengers to experience shuttle buses to board their flights. The brand new concourse permits airways to function bigger plane, doubtlessly rising the variety of guests. The undertaking additionally consists of new Transportation Safety Administration checkpoints geared toward decreasing wait occasions.
D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) stated the town hopes to create extra locations for guests to Washington. She outlined investments the town has made in current months, together with $2.5 million for the D.C. Household Enjoyable program and $2 million to a program targeted on reimagining tourism within the metropolis.
“I’m pleased to have the chance to make sure we’re utilizing our assets to make the investments you must entice individuals to Washington, these individuals who stay round right here, these people who find themselves having staycations, worldwide vacationers,” Bowser stated. “They’re coming again, and we’re going to be prepared for them. D.C. is open.”