DC sets another tourism record: almost 22M in 2018

The District welcomed 21.9 million domestic visitors in 2018, according to Destination DC.It’s the ninth consecutive year for setting a visitor record, and that number does not include international tourists. Those numbers are released later this spring.Last year’s domestic visitor count tops the 2017 record by 1.1 million. Those visitors also spent a record $7.8 billion, Destination DC said, citing data estimates from IHS Markit, up 4.3 % from 2017. That tourist spending resulted in $851 million in local taxes.Leisure travelers accounted for 61% of visitors last year and 43% of total spending. Spending by leisure travelers — those just on vacation, not visiting for business — was up 13%.