Ocean County remains key driver for NJ numbers
Southern Ocean Chamber joined statewide stakeholders at the War Memorial in Trenton on May 8 as the 2024 tourism results were shared at New Jersey Tourism Industry Association’s Advocacy Day. Tourism Economics shared reports of continued growth of visitor activity across New Jersey and Ocean County. With 123.7 million total visitors flocking to the Garden State in 2024—an increase of three million visitors from 2023.Ocean County continues to be a major force in the state’s visitor economy. The county welcomed over 10 million visitors in 2024, accounting for 8.7% of total state visitation. Day-visitor volume represented 8.2% of the state total, while Ocean County ranked third in the state for visitor spending, capturing an impressive 11.5% share.
New Jersey’s visitor economy has reached historic heights, with total visitor spending hitting $50.6 billion, a 3.1% increase from the previous year. This spending fueled a total economic impact of $80.4 billion across state industries, generating $5.4 billion in state and local tax revenues. Thanks to this booming sector, every New Jersey household benefited from $1,545 in tax savings. Day visitors contributed significantly, with 69.9 million people exploring the state, spending an all-time high of $6.915 billion. Meanwhile, overnight stays surged to 53 million, with travelers injecting $43.6 billion into the state’s economy. Visitor activity sustained 507,833 jobs, representing 8.3% of total employment in the state. The industry’s contribution to New Jersey’s GDP reached $24.7 billion, reinforcing its importance in the state’s financial health.
Southern Ocean Chamber Association President Lori Pepenella, who serves as NJTIA Board Chair presented the Senator Jim Whelan Award to Meadowland Chamber CEO Jim Kirkos for his stellar career including the advancement of milestone events to the state such as the Super Bowl and 2026 FIFA World Cup. Projects and programs are underway for 2026 to celebrate USA 250th and World Cup Games. NJTIA Annual Conference on Tourism is scheduled for Golden Nugget Atlantic City December 11-12, 2025. This will feature a NJ Playbook on how businesses can get the most value from the Tourism Industry and preparing for 2026 opportunities.
