20 jobs in Oklahoma City. More than 10,000 of those positions were in the food and beverage industry alone, while recreation, lodging, retail and transportation also relied heavily on visitor spending to support local employment. The benefits of tourism extend beyond businesses and workers. Visitor activity generated $396 million in state and local tax revenue in 2025, helping fund public services while easing the tax burden on residents. According to the report, each Oklahoma City household would have needed to contribute an additional $1,412 in taxes to replace the revenue generated by visitors. In other words, the impact of tourism is felt not only by businesses that welcome visitors but by the entire community. With continued investments in world-class sports venues, convention facilities, attractions and quality- of-life amenities, Oklahoma City is well positioned to build on this record-setting year. Recent successes— from hosting international sporting events to attracting major conventions and welcoming a growing number of leisure travelers—have elevated the city’s profile and reinforced tourism’s role as a key economic driver. As the city continues to grow, the report’s findings demonstrate that every visitor contributes to Oklahoma City’s long- term economic vitality.
visitor spending, while lodging accounted for $522 million, illustrating how tourism supports businesses across the local economy. Those visitor dollars create an economic impact that extends far beyond hotels, restaurants and attractions. Businesses that serve travelers purchase goods and services from local suppliers, restaurants source ingredients from Oklahoma producers, venues contract with local service providers and retailers replenish inventory to meet demand. Employees whose jobs are supported by visitor spending also reinvest their earnings throughout the community, creating another layer of economic activity. Together, those indirect and induced impacts generated nearly $1.9 billion beyond visitors’ initial spending, bringing tourism’s total economic impact to $4.8 billion. “When people think about tourism, they often think about hotels or attractions, but its impact reaches much further,” Yates said. “Visitor spending supports restaurants, retailers, transportation providers, entertainment venues and countless small businesses across our community. It’s an investment that benefits Oklahoma City long after visitors return home.” Tourism also continues to support employment across a wide range of industries. Visitor activity directly supported nearly 26,000 jobs in 2025, with another 10,000-plus jobs sustained through indirect and induced economic activity. Combined, those jobs generated $1.5 billion in personal income while supporting workers and families throughout the metro. In total, tourism supported 36,142 jobs—about one in every Runners from all 50 states and 18 countries participated in the 2025 Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon, one of many events that helped Oklahoma City welcome a record 25 million visitors that year.
The 2026 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships brought elite athletes from around the world to Oklahoma City, highlighting the city’s growing reputation as a destination for international sporting events.
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