Visitors to Maryland spent nearly $17 billion on travel expenses in 2015, up 3.5 percent from the previous year, according to a report released by the Maryland Office of Tourism Development, an agency of the Maryland Department of Commerce. The report also found that Maryland welcomed 40.5 million visitors in 2015, a six percent increase from 2014, which also outpaced the growth of national visitation by a full percentage point.

According to the report, 60 percent of visitor spending focused on three areas: food and beverage, lodging, and transportation. This spending has generated $2.3 billion in state and local tax revenues. More than 143,000 Marylanders were directly employed in the tourism industry in 2015, making it the 10th largest private sector employer in the state. The industry supported a payroll of $5.7 billion, which is an increase of 6 percent from 2014.

"Tourism continues to be a powerful industry in Maryland, providing a significant number of jobs and economic benefits for our citizens," said Governor Larry Hogan, who is a staunch advocate for the industry and was the driving force behind the reopening in the last year of two previously closed Maryland welcome centers. "The state and its partners are continuing to expand the visitor experience, and each year, we welcome more and more visitors to Maryland."

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