Vacation journey numbers excite Memphis tourism and journey industries

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) – A big weekend in Memphis on July 4th keeps the tourism industry excited for the hard data.

Millions of Americans took to the streets and went to heaven this July 4th weekend, and Memphis shared a piece of it as a travel destination.

“It was a great July 4th weekend for Memphis and Shelby Counties,” said Kevin Kane, President and CEO of Memphis Tourism. “We are currently 10 percent above the national average for hospitality visitors to this destination, and we will continue to be strong.”

Kane says this is evidence that businesses both new and old in Memphis have invested in themselves over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, and that the return on investment is gradually emerging.

“If you look at restaurants and hotels and new hospitality developments over the past year, it has invested over $ 1 billion in hospitality to prepare for the return,” said Kane.

At Memphis International Airport, in the last week of June almost 50,000 flyers were counted enter and exit the checkpoints that fly the most, seen since the last week of December 2019.

“Coming here was, everything was fine,” said Eula Armstrong on the way back to her home in California. “I’m not afraid of flying because everyone was very nice.

This was Armstrong’s first flight since the pandemic began, visiting his family in Helena, Arkansas.

According to MEM, they forecast around 41,000 flyers during the July 4th holiday season, an average of 7,300 flyers per day during the six-day holiday season.

The numbers for this Thursday and Friday showed a slight increase of 7,600 day flyers.

“Look at Memorial Day, many parts of the country still haven’t had a green light. Now everyone has the green light, and that’s enough to move people in large numbers, ”said Kane.

He’s been on several flights for Brian McNeary and felt safer every time.

“I feel like everyone does a good job masking themselves so everyone can feel safe,” said McNeary. Everyone wore their mask well on every flight I was on. “

Both say they will fly more as the year progresses.

“I’m just glad everything is opening up somehow,” added McNeary.

“I’ll be making another trip here to Memphis in October, so I’ll be back,” said Armstrong.

If accurately predicted, those flight numbers will be double what MEM saw last year at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

While numbers are pending on actual July 4th tourism revenue in Memphis, the overall impression from business owners and consumers alike is that better days are ahead.

Copyright 2021 WMC. All rights reserved.