OVERLAND PARK, KS, May 22, 2025 (Visit Overland Park) – Tourism in Overland Park proves to be an important catalyst for the city and regional economy, generating $964 million in direct visitor spending in 2024, a 4.8% increase over the previous year.
Based on an economic impact study completed by Tourism Economics, the leading global economic consultancy for the travel and tourism industry, Overland Park welcomed a record 5.1 million visitors last calendar year. Visitation saw an 8.5% increase from the previous economic study conducted in 2022.
$646 million, over two-thirds of total direct visitor spending, was generated by a total of 2.4 million overnight visitors. Overnight visitor spending grew 5.8% in 2024, outpacing the growth of day visitor spending by 3.0%.
“Tourism is a powerful economic driver for Overland Park’s economy,” said Warren Wilkinson, president and CEO of Visit Overland Park. “With more than 4,700 hotel rooms and a diverse mix of sports, business, and leisure travel, Overland Park continues to grow as a leading destination in the Midwest. With quick access to the metro’s top attractions and a stay that’s convenient and connected, Overland Park is the ideal base camp. From sports tournaments to business meetings and family getaways. Visitors experience the best of the region starting right here in OP. Tourism showcases Overland Park as a dynamic, welcoming community to visit, live, and work.”
In total, $103 million in state and local taxes were collected from visitors — an $8 million increase from 2022. $48 million of these collected taxes stayed in Overland Park. For perspective, the study reports that without the contributions of the visitor economy, each household in Overland Park would need to be taxed an additional $1,240 to replace visitor-generated taxes received by state and local governments in 2024.
A combination of strong demand and price increases led to spending growth in all measured economic sectors. The categories with the highest visitor spending were food and beverage and lodging.
Lodging, including short-term rentals and second homes, saw the fastest growth in visitor spending, increasing 8.1% from 2023 for a total of $198 million and surpassing pre-pandemic levels for the first time. Food and beverage accounted for $265 million in total visitor spending, the largest share overall at 27% and an increase of 6.2% from 2023.
The Tourism Economics study revealed that 36% of total restaurant revenue in the city can be attributed to visitors, making them a powerful driver for Overland Park’s hospitality industry.
“Tourism creates a ripple effect in the hospitality industry. When a visitor decides to stay in Overland Park, they’re filling hotel rooms, they’re dining in our restaurants, they’re shopping at our local stores and bringing new energy into our community every day,” said George Katz, chairman of the board for Visit Overland Park.
“Every dollar spent by a visitor circulates through the local economy, supporting thousands of workers and business owners along the way. When tourism grows, so do the opportunities for the hospitality industry. It’s a direct connection that fuels the quality of life in Overland Park.”
Additionally, data showed a significant impact on visitation generated employment in Overland Park. In 2024, 8,252 jobs were directly supported by visitor spending, growing 3.7% over the previous year. These positions generated $309 million in direct wages for employees.
Including indirect and induced jobs, the labor income from visitors totaled $496 million and the total number of tourism supported jobs was 10,968 — equivalent to one in every 17 jobs in Overland Park.
Regionally, tourism in Overland Park represents 47% of Johnson County’s total visitor economy. This significant contribution highlights how the $2.6 million spent daily by visitors in Overland Park is a critical local economic driver.
About Visit Overland Park:
Visit Overland Park is a 501c6 Destination Marketing Organization that also serves as the official marketing organization for the city of Overland Park, Kansas. The organization is responsible for promoting the community as a vibrant and inviting place to visit and as a dynamic place to live and work. Through the impact of visitation, Visit Overland Park strengthens the community’s economic future and provides more opportunities for the residents of Overland Park. The organization is primarily funded through transient guest tax of hotels and short-term rentals. Our mission is to improve the quality of life for all Overland Park residents through the economic and community benefits of tourism. For more information, visit VisitOP.com
About Tourism Economics:
Tourism Economics is a division of Oxford Economics, a leader in global forecasting and quantitative analysis. Their best-of-class global economic and industry models and analytical tools give an unmatched ability to forecast external market trends and assess their economic, social and business impact. Oxford Economics employs more than 600 full-time staff, including 350+ professional economists and analysts. Headquartered in Oxford, England with offices around the world, their worldwide client base includes more than 2,000 international corporations, financial institutions, government organizations, and universities.
