Tourism spending is up in Milwaukee County

MILWAUKEE (AP) – Tourism spending in the state’s largest county increased 7% in 2011 over the year before.

A study for the Department of Tourism reports tourists spent an estimated $1.57 billion in Milwaukee County last year, compared to the over $1.47 billion spent in 2010.

The 2011 amount is the most of any county in the state.

VISIT Milwaukee hosted 207 conventions in 2011, an increase of 28% over the 162 conventions in 2010.

Tourism-related jobs were up by almost 300 full-time positions.