Support Us Button Widget

The next global travel destination: Visit KC’s Annual Tourism Outlook

Peek inside the effort turning this former “flyover” country into a world-class destination, fit for World Cup 2026 and beyond.

KCtoday_skyline

We’re lucky enough to live here year-round.

Photo via @mikedayphotography

The Kansas City Renaissance has been kicking into high gear these past few years — and the world is finally starting to take notice.

Maybe you’ve read about the “Lesser Known US City Set to Be Huge in 2024" or how our hometown is now one of “The World’s Greatest Places” — Visit KC wants you to know all of this positive press didn’t come out of thin air. At yesterday’s Annual Tourism Outlook, the city department offered a peek behind the curtain into the major effort that’s making sure KC continues to be a global travel magnet.

Backing the hype

Kansas City’s burgeoning reputation isn’t all just word of mouth (or Super Bowl wins) — here are some facts and figures you can chew on:

  • In 2023 alone, the city secured 384 convention center meetings leading to ~460,000 occupied hotel room nights. That’s an economic impact of nearly $428 million.
  • Visit KC achieved a record-breaking return on investment that same year: $135 for every dollar spent in the community.
  • There were 28.4 million visitors to grace the Heartland in 2023 — all of which spent enough on Charlie Hustle t-shirts to generate $4 billion in direct economic impact. We’re kidding about the shirts... kind of.

TLDR: Kansas City is holding its own as a destination for summer vacationers, sports tourists, and convention attendees alike — but what about international travelers?

Seeing the bigger picture

Kansas City proper boasts a population of about 500,000 — a number officials expect to temporarily double during the six games KC will host during the FIFA World Cup 2026.

With less than two years until kick-off, Kansas City’s sports and tourism offices are in the thick of preparing for the global influx. One change locals and international travelers can expect to see: a major overhaul of the Visit KC website, including new comprehensive language services.

More from KCtoday
Need some new places to pop the bubbly? Don’t worry, KCtoday has the scoop on the 10 best spots to watch the ball drop on Tuesday, Dec. 31.
Well, maybe not us directly — but KC really is the gift that keeps on giving.
For the new year, we’re asking readers to submit their top questions about Kansas City for us to answer.
Let’s take a look at some snowy stats.
2024’s Google Year in Search is out — check out what Kansas Citians were searching most this year (it might surprise you).
Kansas City is working towards a greener downtown with the South Loop Project. Check out renderings of the project + its 2026 completion goal.
We have 10 of the most recognizable Kansas City landmarks — from bright signs in the night sky to beacons of stone and metal.
A fresh new look is coming for the city’s award-winning farmers market.
Get into the holiday spirits. 🍸
Prepare for winter weather in KC with these seasonal temperature and precipitation outlooks.