DOVER – The Delaware Tourism Office says the First State’s economy is benefiting from a renewed influx of travelers as they find their way to the area for business and leisure.
According to a new report from Rockport Analytics and Longwoods International, Delaware saw a record-breaking 2.4% increase in travelers in 2023, bringing a whopping 29.3 million visitors to the area for the year – including day, overnight, business and leisure travelers.
“Tourism is a cornerstone of our economy, bringing growth and opportunity to communities across the state,” Governor Matt Meyer said in a press release. “People visit Delaware for the best beaches in the country, scenic landscapes, and vibrant cultural destinations—but what keeps them coming back is the experience of a welcoming and inclusive state of neighbors that has something for everyone. As more visitors discover all that Delaware has to offer, our state’s future becomes even brighter.”
The study comes after industry professionals started noticing a “return to normal” as people get back to daily living following the COVID-19 pandemic, after struggling to survive in the moment. Hotel leaders, for example, told the Delaware Business Times at the start of 2025 that, while the industry wasn’t hitting a boom just yet, the return to normal occupancy rates was a welcomed change and they hoped to see a positive upswing soon.
Their chance might be on the horizon if the Delaware Tourism Office’s record-breaking tourism numbers continue to rise.
According to the report, not only did the number of tourists rise in 2023 from its previous numbers in 2022, but so did the spending associated with those visits. Visitors spent $7 billion in 2023 with an average spend of $238 per visitor, supporting a total of 55,240 jobs around the state. The report goes on to detail that for every $1 spent, 66 cents stayed within Delaware’s economy.
It also found that the state generated $724 million in tourism, state and local tax revenues through the industry, helping alleviate the additional $1,826 in state and local taxes every Delaware household would have to pay if the tourism economy did not thrive in the First State.
“The tourism industry employs our family members, friends, and neighbors, playing a crucial role in the economic development of our state,” Delaware Secretary of State Charuni Patibanda-Sanchez said in the press release.
For Delaware Tourism Office Director Jessica Welsh, the success of the industry presented in the report was no surprise. Last fall, she expressed a similar sentiment when the division released its first sports tourism industry report which found that the state’s sports tourism added nearly $258 million in economic impact.
Similar recent reports in Delaware have highlighted other aspects of the tourism industry, such as a report through the Delaware Arts Alliance which found that the creative economy offered a $3.7 billion output.
“It comes as no surprise that our hotels, restaurants, attractions, and small businesses continue to provide a memorable and unique experience for our visitors. Our office would not be successful without the support of our many wonderful partners, and I thank all of them for their efforts in making Delaware a desirable destination for millions of visitors each year,” she said in the most recent press release.
