Downtown Galveston street scene
Current Data: Q1 2025
Comparison: Q1 2024
Last Updated: April 15, 2025

Galveston, TX Convention & Visitors Bureau Economic Impact Report

Welcome to the Galveston Impact Dashboard! We're proud to serve as the driving force behind Galveston’s thriving tourism industry. Our team works tirelessly to showcase our city’s charm to visitors from across the globe, and the results speak for themselves. In 2024, tourism generated a remarkable $175 million in visitor spending, supported 1,200 local jobs, and contributed $17 million in tax revenue to our community according to TravelStats.

Through strategic marketing and sales initiatives, we help our local economy flourish. Whether we're distributing visitor guides, enticing group travel, answering calls from future guests, or analyzing tourism trends, every effort aims to strengthen Galveston’s position as a premier Texas travel destination. This dashboard offers a transparent look at how tourism dollars create lasting value for our community.

VISITOR DEMOGRAPHICS

Who Comes

746,400

visitors chose Gillespie County in Q1 2025

↓3.6% vs Q1 2024

85.1%

visitors from Texas

↓16.4% vs Q1 2024

VISITOR ORIGINS

Where They're From

GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION

Texas Market Reach

Houston

Houston

19% of visitors

↓2.6% vs Q1 2024

Dallas-Ft. Worth

Dallas-Ft. Worth

16% of visitors

↓1.8% vs Q1 2024

San Antonio

San Antonio

14% of visitors

↓5.4% vs Q1 2024

Austin

Austin

12% of visitors

↓4% vs Q1 2024

Waco-Temple-Bryan

Waco-Temple-Bryan

5% of visitors

↓3.8% vs Q1 2024

Market Size

Data Source: Zartico and Placer.ai

ECONOMIC ACTIVITY

What They Do

Downtown Galveston
Charming B&B
Local Winery
Restaurant Scene
The Strand Shopping
Downtown Galveston

What's a Visit Worth, Anyway?

Follow Sarah and Paul's weekend visit to Galveston from Houston as we explore how a typical visitor weekend contributes to our local economy. Every dollar spent helps support our residents and neighbors– from family-owned B&Bs to local shops and artisans.

Arrival & Check-in

Sarah begins her weekend by checking into a charming local B&B, supporting one of our many family-run accommodations that give Fredericksburg its unique character.

Avg Accommodations Spend

$419

↓9.3% vs Q1 2024

Revenue from Visitors

97% Visitors

Saturday Adventures

The day is spent exploring local wineries and enjoying guided tours, directly supporting our tourism activities and creating memorable experiences.

Avg Attractions Spend

$88

↓21.4% vs Q1 2024

Revenue from Visitors

86% Visitors

Dining & Nightlife

Sarah enjoys dinner at a local restaurant and visits a wine bar, contributing to our vibrant food and beverage scene while supporting local establishments.

Avg Dining Spend

$96

No Change

Revenue from Visitors

67% Visitors

Sunday Shopping

Before heading home, Sarah visits Main Street shops, purchasing local artisan goods and souvenirs that support our retail community.

Avg Visitor Retail Spend

$145

↓20.3% vs Q1 2024

Revenue from Visitors

80% Visitors

The Ripple Effect

Sarah's weekend visit demonstrates how tourism creates a positive ripple effect throughout our community. Each visitor's spending supports local businesses, creates jobs, and helps maintain Galveston's unique charm.

Total Economic Impact: $175.3M in 2024

ECONOMIC RISK

What If They Stop Coming

What tourism in 2024 meant for us

Visitor Spending

$997.8M

Jobs Supported

9,800

Tax Revenue

$84.6M


What it would cost each Galveston household if they didn't come

Higher Taxes

$3,451

Extra Local Spending

$40,697

Each household would need to spend this much more annually to maintain our local businesses without tourist dollars

Lost Earnings

$13,757

Source: Dean Runyan Associates, Texas Travel Research Dashboard (Apr 2025)

YOUR FCVB TEAM AT WORK

How We Keep Them Coming Back

From eye-catching billboards to targeted web ads, our FCVB team ensures Fredericksburg remains a must-visit destination. Here's how we connect with potential visitors and inspire them to return.

Billboard Advertisement

Billboard

High Traffic Billboards in Austin and Dallas

Magazine Advertisement

Magazine

Full page ads in Garden & Gun and Texas Monthly

Video Advertisement

Video

6% increase in visitation but 26% increase in overall in-destination spending

526,291

↓21% vs Q1 2024

Total Website Sessions

04:37

↑12% vs Q1 2024

Average Time on Site

373,037

↓20% vs Q1 2024

First-time Visitors

Our digital marketing efforts drive significant website engagement, with visitors spending quality time exploring what Fredericksburg has to offer, ultimately converting to real-world tourism that sustains our local economy.

SOCIAL MEDIA IMPACT

Instagram Reach

55,000

Average Monthly Reach

+3.8%
vs previous 3 months
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COMMUNITY VOICES

Meet the Heart of the Texas Hill Country

Hear from our residents about their Love for Fredericksburg and see our stewardship campaign efforts in motion

LOOKING AHEAD

Future Initiatives

Modernizing Visitor Center

We are enhancing our visitor center to create a welcoming ambience that truly represents the charm of Galveston.

Website Refresh

A complete website refresh is underway to deliver a fresh, modern look and a more engaging digital experience.

Optimizing Media Spend

We’re restructuring our media strategy to efficiently reach and drive more visitors to Galveston.

JOIN US

Get Involved

Ready to Make an Impact?

Join us in shaping the future of Galveston's tourism. Whether you're a local business owner or a community member, there's a place for you in our story.

Contact Us Today