Three studies in, a clear pattern has emerged along the Great Miami River: this region's tourism economy keeps growing. The 2023 Great Miami Riverway visitor economy report shows spending, jobs, wages, and tax revenue all reaching new highs — and, for the first time, the study area itself grew, expanding from five counties to six with the addition of Hamilton County, extending the corridor roughly 30 miles further south to the city of Cleves.
That expansion makes some direct comparisons to the 2017 and 2021 reports imperfect — but even accounting for the larger footprint, the underlying trend is unmistakable: this is a visitor economy on solid, sustained footing.
| Metric | 2023 Result | Change vs. 2021 |
|---|---|---|
| Direct visitor spending | $709.8 million | +24.0% |
| Total economic impact | $1.164 billion | +18.3% |
| Total jobs supported | 10,930 | +10.1% |
| Total labor income | $321.3 million | +18.9% |
| Total tax revenue generated | $139.9 million | +2.1% |
Visitor spending grew 6.0% from 2022 to 2023 alone, and the region now sits 12.2% above 2019 (pre-pandemic) spending levels — proof that the post-COVID recovery documented in the 2021 report has evolved into genuine, sustained growth rather than a one-time rebound.
The 2023 study area now runs the full 130-mile stretch of the Great Miami River from river mile 130 near Sidney in Shelby County down to river mile zero near Cleves in Hamilton County — bringing the Cincinnati metro area's northern edge into the Riverway's economic footprint for the first time.
Here's how each county performed:
Hamilton and Shelby counties — one brand new to the study, one the smallest by dollar volume — posted the strongest growth rates in 2023, a signal that tourism momentum along the Great Miami River is broadening beyond its traditional Dayton-area core.
Direct visitor spending in 2023 was led by retail trade ($166.1 million), food & beverage ($163.0 million), recreation and entertainment ($121.7 million), other transportation ($114.9 million), and lodging ($104.2 million) — the first time lodging spending in the Riverway has topped $100 million in a single year.
Once indirect and induced impacts are included, finance, insurance, and real estate jumps into third place regionally at $148.5 million in total business sales, underscoring how tourism dollars ripple far beyond the businesses that greet visitors directly — supporting local banks, insurers, property managers, accountants, and other professional services throughout the supply chain.
On employment, food & beverage again led all industries with 3,841 jobs, followed by recreation and entertainment (1,656 jobs), other transportation (1,202 jobs), and retail trade (1,068 jobs).
Visitor spending generated $139.9 million in total tax revenue in 2023 — $69.2 million federal, $38.5 million state, and $32.1 million local. That's real money flowing into county and municipal budgets along the river without raising local residents' tax bills, funding everything from road maintenance to public safety to the very park and trail improvements that keep drawing visitors back.
To put the $70.7 million in state and local tax revenue in local terms: Tourism Economics estimated it's enough to cover the salaries of 1,233 public-school teachers across the Great Miami Riverway region.
Tourism Economics likes to translate big annual totals into everyday terms, and the 2023 numbers are striking in that light: nearly $1.9 million was spent by visitors in the Great Miami Riverway region every single day of 2023. The $321.3 million in total labor income works out to roughly $1,420 for every household in the six-county region. And the 10,930 total jobs supported by tourism now account for 5.8% of all employment across the Riverway — 1 in every 17 jobs.
Ohio's tourism economy also hit new highs in 2023: 238 million visitors spent $42.8 billion, generating a $70.7 billion total economic impact and 523,904 jobs statewide — a 5.5% increase in spending over 2022. The Great Miami Riverway's 6.0% spending growth slightly outpaced the state average, a small but meaningful sign that the region's ongoing investment in trails, riverfront amenities, and destination marketing is paying dividends relative to Ohio tourism broadly.
Three studies in, a consistent story is emerging about why the Great Miami River corridor keeps growing as a visitor destination:
Taken together, the Great Miami Riverway's three economic impact studies — 2017, 2021, and 2023 — tell a remarkably consistent growth story: from $773 million and 9,110 jobs in the original five-county baseline, through a resilient pandemic recovery, to a record $1.2 billion and 10,930 jobs across an expanded six-county region today. For the communities that line the Great Miami River — from Sidney's small-town charm to downtown Dayton's riverfront revival to Hamilton's growing arts and outdoor scene — the data makes the case that continued investment in the river corridor isn't just good for quality of life. It's a proven economic engine.
How much tourism revenue did the Great Miami Riverway generate in 2023? Visitors spent $709.8 million directly in the Great Miami Riverway region in 2023, generating a total economic impact of approximately $1.2 billion once indirect and induced effects are included.
How many counties are in the Great Miami Riverway region? As of the 2023 study, the Great Miami Riverway spans six counties: Shelby, Miami, Montgomery, Warren, Butler, and Hamilton, covering about 130 miles of the Great Miami River.
How many jobs does tourism support in the Great Miami Riverway? Tourism supported 10,930 total jobs in 2023 — about 5.8% of all employment, or 1 in every 17 jobs, across the six-county region.
Is Great Miami Riverway tourism spending above or below pre-pandemic levels? Well above. 2023 visitor spending was 12.2% higher than 2019 (pre-pandemic) levels, indicating sustained growth rather than a temporary rebound.
Which county added the most new tourism activity in the 2023 report? Hamilton County was newly added to the Great Miami Riverway study area in 2023, contributing $34.0 million in visitor spending and posting the region's fastest year-over-year growth rate at 11.4%.
Source: "The Great Miami Riverway Region Visitor Economy 2023," Oxford Economics, October 2024. Prepared for the Great Miami Riverway.