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Research

MOTT pursues an aggressive research program to track travel trends in the Commonwealth. The following is an overview of MOTT's major research initiatives. For additional travel industry statistics, contact MOTT's Research Department.

To join the MOTT "TravelStats" email newsletter and receive other MOTT research updates, contact MOTT's Research Department. See the most recent TravelStats Newsletter (PDF).

Overview Statistics

Massachusetts Travel Volume:

  • Domestic travel: 20 million CY2007 (Projected)
  • International travel: 1.7 million CY2006

Economic Impact of Travelers on Massachusetts (CY2006):

  • Direct spending: $14.21 billion
  • State & local taxes: $887.2 million
  • Jobs supported: 125,800
  • Wages paid: $3.4 billion

Economic Impact of Tourism

Economic-impact analysis estimates the scope of the travel industry in the state's economy. Measuring the economic impact of this industry is complex for two reasons. First, the travel industry is highly disaggregated, as a number of industries provide goods and services to travelers. Second, industries serving travelers also serve residents and nontravel-related businesses.

MOTT's economic-impact study estimates the impact of traveler expenditures across many industries. The study also isolates travel-generated impacts from impacts driven by travelers and the industry that serves them. For purposes of these reports a traveler is defined as a person who travels 50 or more miles one way to a destination or who stays overnight.

Room Occupancy Tax Collections

Note: The Commonwealth's fiscal year begins on July 1 of the previous year and ends on June 30 of the current year. For more information, please visit the Massachusetts Department of Revenue.

Domestic Travel to Massachusetts

MOTT uses national survey data to estimate domestic travel to Massachusetts. By any measure, Massachusetts is a significant destination for domestic travelers.

Domestic Travel by Season

Massachusetts' top travel season is summer, followed in order by fall, spring and winter.

International Travel Markets

Travel expenditures by international travelers to Massachusetts during 2006 totaled $1.6 billion (up 16.6% from 2005). These travel expenditures supported 15,300 jobs (up 4.2%) and created $405.7 million in payroll income (up 6%). In total, $265.8 million in tax revenue was generated by international tavelers (up 11.2%).

Special Topics:

Each year MOTT conducts several primary research studies in conjunction with Strategic Marketing & Research, Inc.

  • Massachusetts Residents Focus Groups: MOTT contracted Strategic Marketing & Research, Inc. to conduct focus group sessions with Massachusetts residents to better understand the travel decision process regarding in-state travel.
  • Segmentation Study: MOTT contracted Strategic Marketing & Research, Inc. to conduct a segmentation study to better understand the travel decision processes used by potential visitors to Massachusetts. Key groups, or segments, were targeted for an in-depth analysis.
  • Advertising Return on Investment (ROI) Study: MOTT contracted Strategic Marketing & Research, Inc. to conduct an advertising ROI study to assess the impact of MOTT's 2007 brand advertising campaign on travel to the Commonwealth. Every media dollar spent on the brand campaign generated $48 in direct travel expenditures and $3.35 in state and local taxes, increases of approximately 10% each compared to 2006.

TravelStats Newsletter Archive

NOTE: Archived e-mail newsletters are all in Adobe Acrobat (PDF) format.

 

 

 

 

 

Travel Industry Report



Useful Research Links

A select list of Web resources to help you better measure travel and tourism and their role in the broader Massachusetts economy:

 

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