Legacy Arena is home to major Birmingham events. (Bham Now)

Tourism in Jefferson County continues to set records nearly topping 4 million visitors in 2023, according to the annual economic impact report released by the Greater Birmingham Convention and Visitors Bureau (GBCVB).

2023 tourism numbers for Greater Birmingham

Welsh Delegation at 16th Street Baptist Church — Entrance to Kelly Ingram Park. (Nathan Watson / Bham Now)

How did the Greater Birmingham tourism industry do year to year — 2023 to 2022?

Number of visitors — UP 1.51% — 3.96M (2023) from 3.9M (2022)
State & local revenue generated — UP 4.6% — $296M (2023) from $283M (2022)
Tourism-related jobs — UP 1.1% — 51,550 (2023) from 51,000 (2022)

M stands for millions.

Pre-pandemic — Comparing 2023 to 2019

Number of visitors — UP 10% — 3.96M (2023) from 3.6M (2019)
State & local revenue generated — UP 74.1% — $296M (2023) from $170M (2019)
Tourism-related jobs — UP 56.2% — 51,500 (2023) from 33,000 (2019)

“Tourism is a leading contributor to our regional economy. It is the common thread that impacts and unites all of our 34 municipalities across Jefferson County.”
John Oros, President and CEO of the Greater Birmingham Convention & Visitors Bureau

Oros credited the growth in 2023 to several major events including:

NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament
Annual meeting of the National Association of Black Journalists
New Food + Culture festival
60th commemoration of the Birmingham Civil Rights Movement
Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix
SEC Baseball Tournament
Magic City Classic
Ticketsmarter Birmingham Bowl

Sports in Birmingham leading the way

Get ready for a fun weekend at The Magic City Classic. (Bham Now)

“Birmingham is more popular than ever as a destination for business, leisure and sports travel. Visitors to our region enjoy first-class facilities, rich history, world-class dining and shopping, and a wide-range of entertainment options.”
John Oros, President and CEO of the Greater Birmingham Convention & Visitors Bureau

Supporting Oros’ statement about sports entertainment in the Greater Birmingham area was a report in March 2024 by the well-respected Sports Business Journal naming The Magic City the 3rd Best Sports Business Cities Without a Big Five Team in the U.S.

Excited to see tourism numbers in the Greater Birmingham area grow? Tag us @bhamnow to let us know!