What a difference a year makes in Abilene s travel and tourism outlook
Our view
For example, those in the tourism and travel industry.
The nation had been locked down for weeks. No one was going anywhere, especially to where COVID-19 held its tightest grip. Think New York state.
The Abilene metro area did not escape. All events were canceled or postponed for too long a time.
Numbers show that travel spending locally fell 17.7%, and employment by 14%.
In 2019, those visiting Abilene added more than $500 million to the local economy. That fell to about $416 million in 2020.
The Abilene Convention and Visitors Bureau reports that at least 214 events were canceled, a loss of $17 million in direct spending for local businesses.