Every day, travelers walk into our restaurants, browse our shops, and fill our hotels, often without us even realizing the ripple effect they create in Abilene's economy. Thanks to recent data provided by Zartico, a leading travel data provider, we can now see the powerful impact visitors had on our community just last month.
In March, 22.6% of all spending in Abilene came from visitors. That means more than one in every five dollars spent in our city originated from someone who doesn’t live here. The best thing is these are outside dollars coming into the community. And those dollars didn’t just vanish into the air, they went directly into the pockets of local business owners and employees.
In fact, 25% of that visitor spend went straight to local businesses. If you own or work at a restaurant, you likely felt this more than most: 35% of all restaurant spending came from visitors. Retail shops, 25% of your March sales were traveler-driven. Attractions across town also saw visitor engagement, with 89% of their spend coming from out-of-towners.
In March our top feeder markets were Dallas-Fort Worth, which brought in 26% of our visitors, followed by the Abilene-Sweetwater region at 8%. Odessa-Midland contributed 8%, while Lubbock and Houston accounted for 6% and 4%, respectively. These aren’t once-a-year tourists—many are families and professionals traveling for events, meetings, tournaments, and weekend getaways.
And here's something even more encouraging, 58% of visitor spending came from individuals between the ages of 25 and 54, many of them in their prime earning and spending years. Nearly half (46%) came from households earning over $100,000, and 41% of those visitors had children. These are families and professionals with buying power, supporting everything from boutique retail to bakeries and brunch spots.
This is why the work of the Abilene Convention & Visitors Bureau matters. Every convention, youth sports tournament or leisure trip we help bring to town directly supports Chamber members like you. Tourism is not just about heads in beds, it’s about wallets in shops, forks in plates, and families making lifelong memories in Abilene.
If you're a Chamber member, you're already part of something bigger—a community that values growth, collaboration, and the visitor economy. Let’s continue working together to keep Abilene a vibrant destination, not just for those passing through, but for those of us lucky enough to call it home.
Abilene’s peak travel seasons are ahead, so if you'd like to learn more about how tourism supports your business or how to get involved in future opportunities, my door is always open.
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Robert Lopez
Vice President
Abilene Convention & Visitors Bureau