Visit Wichita is joining hundreds of Destination Marketing Organizations across the U.S. to celebrate the powerful impact of travel on local economies during National Travel and Tourism Week, May 4-10. Now in its 43rd year, the U.S. Travel Association annually presents National Travel and Tourism Week, spotlighting travel's essential role in driving economic impact and celebrating travel's power to fuel economies and strengthen communities across the country. 

Travel is one of America’s most powerful economic engines—supporting 15 million jobs, generating $2.9 trillion in economic output and funding essential public services. It strengthens every sector of the economy, from restaurants and retail to tech, manufacturing and agriculture*. 

A baby elephant walks alongside his mother outside in its enclosure at the Sedgwick County Zoo in Wichita, KS

In 2024, Wichita hosted a variety of meetings, conventions and sporting events resulting in a $2.6 billion economic impact. These events helped bring 6.9 million visitors to Wichita who poured $1.5 billion into the economy. Whether visiting for leisure or attending meetings, conventions and sports, every tourist dollar fuels our local economy, supporting more than 17,000 Wichita jobs in tourism and hospitality and generating $210 million in state and local taxes**. 

Four people pose under a large sign that reads "Road to the Final Four" outside of INTRUST Bank Arena during the NCAA Men's Division 1 Basketball Championship.

Meetings, conventions and sporting events mean business. Each year they drive year-round tourism, stimulate local business, garner national recognition, amplify quality of place for our city and spur repeat, leisure visitation.

Here’s some of the meetings, conventions and sports events taking place this year:  

  • 2025 Prevagen U.S. Figure Skating Championships — held in January 2025
  • 2025 NAIA Men's Wrestling National Championship — held in March 2025 
  • 2025 NAIA Women's Wrestling National Championship — held in March 2025 
  • 2025 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship (Rounds 1 & 2) — held in March 2025 
  • Women's Collegiate Lacrosse Associates (WCLA) Division I and Division II National Championships — May 2025 
  • NXTPRO Basketball Tournament — May 2025 
  • Athletes Unlimited Softball Leagues (AUSL) — June 2025
  • The Basketball Tournament (TBT) — July 2025
  • 2025 High Plains Journal Live — August 2025
  • National Aviation Hall of Fame Enshrinement — September 2025 
  • NJCAA Men's & Women's Soccer Championships — November 2025
  • Travel Bloggers Exchange (TBEX) Summit America — October 2025

“The 6.9 million visitors to Wichita annually generate $210 million in state and local taxes,” said Susie Santo, president and CEO of Visit Wichita. “That revenue helps fund critical public services while fueling more than 17,000 jobs in our community. If every visitor-supported job was in one place it would fill INTRUST Bank Arena.”  

Please visit ustravel.org/NTTW to learn more about National Travel and Tourism Week.

 

*Source: Tourism Economics, U.S. Travel Association, U.S. Department of Commerce, and U.S. Department of State
**Tourism Economics 2024 is an economic impact study recently conducted for Visit Wichita by Tourism Economics, the leader in tourism research.