Tourism generated $2.6 billion in total economic impact for Omaha in 2025, according to a report by Tourism Economics released Thursday by Visit Omaha.
That total includes more than $1.6 billion spent directly by visitors, a 1.3% increase over 2024. The other $1 billion is indirect and induced sales, or the money that keeps circulating as local businesses and their employees spend what visitors brought in.
“Tourism serves as a powerful economic driver for our local community — filling hotels, boosting attendance at area attractions and entertainment venues, and supporting local restaurants and shops,” Visit Omaha Executive Director Jasmyn Goodwin said in a news release.
The city saw 14.8 million visitors in 2025, up 0.7% from 2024. That gain follows three straight years of record-breaking growth, according to Visit Omaha’s 2025 annual report, which says momentum leveled off last year, in line with a national trend.
Day-trippers drove what growth there was, rising from 8 million to 8.2 million. Overnight stays were the soft spot. Overnight visitors dipped from 6.7 million to 6.6 million, and visitor spending on hotels slipped from $380 million to $374 million.
Hotel data from the analytics firm STR, included in Visit Omaha’s annual report, shows Omaha hotel occupancy fell 2.4% in 2025, and hotel revenue dropped 3.3%.
Overnight visitors still spent far more than day-trippers, $1.05 billion, compared with $624 million. Food and beverage remained the largest share of visitor spending at $431 million.
Visitor spending generated $348 million in federal, state and local taxes in 2025, up 1.1% from the year before. Visit Omaha says that saves each Douglas County household $890 a year. Tourism also supported 16,380 jobs, or about one in every 28 jobs in the city.
Goodwin pointed to major development projects as reason for optimism.
“Omaha tourism is expanding alongside our city,” Goodwin said. “With more than $9 billion in new developments — ranging from Omaha’s airport to CHI Health Center Omaha — our view remains optimistic.”