The Great Miami River corridor is an economic asset. Visitor activity along the Riverway generated nearly $1.2 billion in economic activity in 2025, supported more than 11,000 jobs and generated $72 million in state and local tax revenue: visitor spending has grown from $598 million in 2021 to $728 million in 2025 — an increase of about $130 million.
Great Miami Riverway Visitor Economy Reaches $1.2 Billion in Economic Impact
New Tourism Economics study shows visitor spending in the six-county Riverway region grew 2.6% since 2023, supporting more than 11,000 jobs
DAYTON, Ohio — September 2, 2026 — Visitors to the Great Miami Riverway region spent $728.3 million in 2025, generating a total economic impact of $1.2 billion and supporting 11,177 jobs across the six-county corridor, according to a new economic impact study conducted by Tourism Economics, an Oxford Economics company.
The study, commissioned by the Great Miami Riverway Coalition, measured the economic contribution of visitor spending across Butler, Hamilton, Miami, Montgomery, Shelby, and Warren counties — the six-county area that spans roughly 130 miles along the Great Miami River corridor.
"For nearly a century, the Miami Conservancy District has invested in the river corridor — first for flood protection, and through the River Corridor Improvement Subdistrict, for recreation and public access, with over 99 miles of connected biking and water trails through our partner communities, enhancing the quality of life throughout the region. This study shows that investment continues to pay dividends, generating $1.2 billion in economic impact and supporting more than 11,000 jobs across the region," said MaryLynn Lodor, General Manager, Miami Conservancy District.
Visitor Spending Drives Regional Growth
Visitor spending in the Great Miami Riverway region reached $728.3 million in 2025, an increase of 2.6% since 2023. Montgomery County accounted for the largest share of that spending, driving 64% of overall regional visitor sales, while Hamilton and Butler counties posted the strongest year-over-year growth, at 9.1% and 3.3%, respectively.
That direct spending rippled through the regional economy. Once supply-chain (indirect) and household-spending (induced) effects are included, visitor activity generated a total economic impact of $1.2 billion in business sales across the Riverway region in 2025.
Supporting Jobs and Paychecks Across the Region
The visitor economy sustained 11,177 total jobs in the Great Miami Riverway region in 2025 — 7,684 of them direct jobs at businesses where visitors spend money, plus another 3,493 jobs supported indirectly through the supply chain and local spending by employees. That means roughly one in every 18 jobs in the region is connected to visitor spending.
Food and beverage businesses saw the largest employment impact, with nearly 4,000 total jobs tied to visitor spending in that sector alone. Visitor-supported jobs made up the largest share of total employment in Hamilton County, where they accounted for 12.8% of all jobs — the highest concentration of any county in the region.
Altogether, the visitor economy generated $335.8 million in personal income for regional employees in 2025.
Meaningful Tax Revenue for Local Governments
Visitor activity generated $144.4 million in total tax revenue in 2025, including $72 million in state and local taxes. According to the study, each household in the Great Miami Riverway region would need to be taxed an additional $322 to replace the tax revenue that visitor spending currently generates for state and local governments — revenue that supports public services without adding to residents' tax bills.
A Growing Piece of Ohio's Visitor Economy
The Riverway's growth mirrors trends across the state. Ohio welcomed 244.8 million visitors in 2025, who spent $44.3 billion and generated a total economic impact of $72.6 billion statewide — supporting more than 535,000 jobs and $4.8 billion in state and local tax revenue.
About the Study
The study was conducted by Tourism Economics, an Oxford Economics company, using a comprehensive analysis of visitor spending, industry data, and government data to model direct, indirect, and induced economic impacts across business sales, employment, personal income, and taxes. The Great Miami Riverway study region is defined as the communities along both banks of the Great Miami River, spanning approximately 130 miles from river mile 130 upstream of Sidney in Shelby County to river mile zero downstream of Cleves in Hamilton County.
About the Great Miami Riverway
The Great Miami Riverway, a program of the Miami Conservancy District, is convened in collaboration with local communities to support and encourage people to live, work, and play safely along the Great Miami River. Stretching along the Great Miami River corridor in Southwest Ohio, the Riverway connects vibrant city waterfronts through the nation's largest connected paved trail network and Ohio's first National Water Trail. The Great Miami Riverway Coalition works to increase use of the region's recreational, historical, and cultural assets; attract visitors, customers, jobs, and talent; and strengthen river corridor communities throughout southwest Ohio.
Learn more at www.greatmiamiriverway.com
Use our interactive map to plan a trip: https://greatmiamiriverway.com/maps#explore
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