The economic impact of the travel and tourism industry on a geographic area, measured by total expenditures related to travel/tourism.
Tourism brings external money into a region's economy, fueling the development of jobs, new industry and attractions. The sense that a region is a tourist destination also can boost regional pride.
In 2018, people spent about $948 million on travel and tourism in Berks County, or 2% of the over $45 billion in tourism spending statewide that year. Spending in Berks represented $2,253 per county resident, well below Pennsylvania's rate of $3,563 per resident. Total tourism spending per resident in Berks County was largely flat (increasing by 6%) from 2005 to 2018, while spending increased 14% statewide during the same period (after inflation).
Tourism spending per resident in 2018 in surrounding counties was lower than Berks in Chester ($1,652), Lebanon ($1,794), Montgomery ($1,749) and Schuylkill ($1,605) counties. Spending per resident was higher in Lancaster ($4,118) and Lehigh ($3,630). Like Berks, total tourism spending since 2005 was below 13% in all counties. Spending increased from 6% in Berks, Lehigh and Montgomery to 13% in Lebanon, during the same period.
Figures presented are in 2019 dollars. Total expenditures include spending by domestic and international travelers in the region on transportation, lodging, meals, entertainment, recreation and other tourism-related expenses.
There may be additional research available on this topic. Click on Reports and Resources to learn more.
| 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | $3,133 | $3,122 | $3,190 | $3,408 | $2,945 | $3,157 | $3,302 | $3,354 | $3,369 | $3,352 | $3,447 | $3,465 | $3,534 | $3,563 |
| Berks County | $2,129 | $2,053 | $2,033 | $2,175 | $1,813 | $1,959 | $2,100 | $2,140 | $2,140 | $2,073 | $2,142 | $2,192 | $2,253 | $2,253 |
| Berks County Regions | ||||||||||||||
| Central | ||||||||||||||
| Northeast | ||||||||||||||
| South | ||||||||||||||
| Southeast | ||||||||||||||
| West | ||||||||||||||
| Reading city | ||||||||||||||
| Berks County Peers | ||||||||||||||
| Chester County | $1,513 | $1,476 | $1,510 | $1,643 | $1,460 | $1,519 | $1,545 | $1,571 | $1,574 | $1,549 | $1,592 | $1,592 | $1,608 | $1,652 |
| Lancaster County | $3,801 | $3,707 | $3,646 | $3,958 | $3,514 | $3,769 | $3,890 | $3,841 | $3,841 | $3,888 | $3,977 | $4,088 | $4,120 | $4,118 |
| Lebanon County | $1,581 | $1,530 | $1,505 | $1,644 | $1,433 | $1,500 | $1,569 | $1,582 | $1,567 | $1,589 | $1,580 | $1,580 | $1,628 | $1,794 |
| Lehigh County | $3,426 | $3,356 | $3,447 | $3,656 | $2,993 | $3,103 | $3,204 | $3,235 | $3,217 | $3,184 | $3,382 | $3,438 | $3,540 | $3,630 |
| Montgomery County | $1,655 | $1,645 | $1,695 | $1,770 | $1,519 | $1,570 | $1,666 | $1,682 | $1,681 | $1,684 | $1,752 | $1,769 | $1,759 | $1,749 |
| Schuylkill County | $1,463 | $1,446 | $1,475 | $1,561 | $1,273 | $1,259 | $1,361 | $1,481 | $1,469 | $1,477 | $1,543 | $1,531 | $1,584 | $1,605 |
| 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | $39,009,619,048 | $39,058,708,333 | $40,073,176,202 | $42,984,925,431 | $37,299,226,241 | $40,097,357,560 | $42,091,417,398 | $42,818,098,996 | $43,046,099,357 | $42,860,042,478 | $44,066,928,018 | $44,292,348,627 | $45,188,459,457 | $45,611,765,502 |
| Berks County | $842,764,857 | $825,051,807 | $823,781,201 | $886,890,630 | $743,243,687 | $806,285,169 | $867,196,400 | $885,023,927 | $885,965,634 | $859,403,895 | $889,234,236 | $911,497,143 | $940,670,073 | $947,564,066 |
| Berks County Regions | ||||||||||||||
| Central | ||||||||||||||
| Northeast | ||||||||||||||
| South | ||||||||||||||
| Southeast | ||||||||||||||
| West | ||||||||||||||
| Reading city | ||||||||||||||
| Berks County Peers | ||||||||||||||
| Chester County | $711,860,095 | $707,241,612 | $734,263,890 | $807,570,381 | $724,772,824 | $758,215,238 | $777,635,356 | $794,828,988 | $801,572,276 | $794,392,442 | $819,877,417 | $822,871,968 | $834,598,284 | $862,551,065 |
| Lancaster County | $1,880,577,810 | $1,857,064,042 | $1,847,065,168 | $2,026,347,383 | $1,815,030,399 | $1,957,618,653 | $2,038,082,024 | $2,023,818,556 | $2,035,646,790 | $2,073,346,995 | $2,130,753,650 | $2,200,077,364 | $2,230,323,633 | $2,239,965,296 |
| Lebanon County | $199,498,857 | $196,308,054 | $195,927,006 | $216,349,542 | $190,547,804 | $200,369,544 | $211,059,465 | $214,463,523 | $212,794,174 | $216,956,827 | $217,238,931 | $218,793,401 | $227,162,592 | $253,511,822 |
| Lehigh County | $1,135,206,095 | $1,130,166,262 | $1,174,945,526 | $1,260,337,012 | $1,039,254,160 | $1,084,973,529 | $1,132,583,503 | $1,147,702,771 | $1,143,206,244 | $1,138,672,364 | $1,216,494,870 | $1,245,439,360 | $1,294,242,703 | $1,337,300,312 |
| Montgomery County | $1,289,673,714 | $1,285,893,839 | $1,330,799,356 | $1,396,653,848 | $1,208,590,264 | $1,255,445,920 | $1,341,597,157 | $1,360,496,017 | $1,366,206,636 | $1,373,555,937 | $1,431,360,784 | $1,449,852,474 | $1,450,064,977 | $1,446,035,503 |
| Schuylkill County | $215,076,524 | $214,062,012 | $218,861,193 | $231,786,117 | $188,879,468 | $186,652,027 | $200,830,411 | $217,915,429 | $215,428,037 | $214,796,978 | $222,416,423 | $219,645,566 | $225,806,709 | $227,549,768 |
| INDICATORS | TREND | BERKS COUNTY |
|---|---|
| Tourism Spending |  Maintaining |
| Voter Registration Rate |  Decreasing |
| Voter Participation Rate | Decreasing |
| Average Charitable Giving | Maintaining |
| Contributions as a Percentage of Income | Maintaining |
| Households With Internet Access | Not Applicable |
| Arts, Entertainment and Recreation Establishments | Maintaining |
| Toxic Chemical Releases | Decreasing |
Increasing
Children & Youth
Demographics
Economy
Education
Financial Self-Sufficiency
Health
Housing
Living
Public Safety
Transportation