Tourism industry in Nebraska sees $152.6 million loss

Friday, May 29, 2020

The travel and tourism industry in Nebraska has seen a huge loss in millions of dollars in revenue due to the global coronavirus pandemic. Now the tourism department is facing major challenges as it tries to recover.

Nebraska Tourism Commission Executive Director John Ricks says that the visitor spending was $152.6 million lower in March than it was at the same time last year.

The Nebraska Tourism Commission’s revenue from a state lodging tax dropped nearly 60% as well, indicating that hotels and motels were severely hit. Ricks says he’s hopeful that the governor’s recent moves to ease social-distancing restrictions on Monday will help.

The upcoming changes will allow for larger crowds at public events, and Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo will reopen for the first time in months.

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