SOUTH HAVEN, Mich. — Across the country, celebrations are underway for National Travel and Tourism Week, an annual celebration of the travel industry’s impact on the U.S. economy and local communities.
That, of course, includes right here in West Michigan, where tourism leaders from across the state gathered at the Michigan Maritime Museum along Lake Michigan.
From the miles of Great Lakes coastline, to the many shops adding a local touch, there’s something around every corner that makes our state “Pure Michigan.”
“We have 3,000 miles of freshwater coastline, we’re a two-peninsula state. Who else can say that? No one,” Kelly Wolgamott, vice president, Pure Michigan, said.
People come from around the world to experience the Mitten state.
In 2024, 131 million travelers came to Michigan, generating more than $54 billion dollars of economic impact and supporting more than 350,000 jobs.
That’s why tourism is essential, especially for places like South Haven, where traveling tourism is the primary economic driver.
“For a community like we are here in South Haven, obviously tourism is important. This is a beautiful place. People come here for leisure experiences, they come with their family. They come to walk along the river or take boat rides or enjoy the beach,” Dan McCole, president, Tourism Industry Coalition of Michigan. “All of those businesses benefit and the people who come here benefit by having these great experiences.”
However, leaders in the travel industry admit, keeping the momentum going won’t be without challenges this summer. Mainly, gas prices.
But, McCole believes we’ll still see a lot of Michiganders traveling around.
When fuel prices go up, sometimes so does jet fuel, said McCole, meaning someone who was planning a trip abroad may just opt for a road trip around Michigan instead.
“Travel is essential to people. Like they will prioritize that in their lives. We’ve seen that over and over again over the last 20 years,” said McCole. “So people are still going to find a way to have experiences one way or another.”
