GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Tourism in Green Bay suffered last year because of the pandemic, but it’s slowly coming back in 2021.
And it’s not just Packers games driving the increase in tourists.
After last year, cars passing by Lambeau Field during the week of Packers games is an extremely welcoming site, meaning tourism is back in Green Bay.
But that’s not to say it’s in full swing.
“Coming out of 2020 was a very difficult year, and 2021 had its own challenges with labor shortages and supply change issues.”
That’s vice president of marketing and communication for Discover Green Bay, Nick Meisner.
He says meetings and conventions coming back to Green Bay are helping tourism in the area, but helping doesn’t mean restoring to pre-pandemic levels.
“The 2021 numbers are still a little bit lower than 2019. We are definitely on our way to coming back, on our way, for example, on Packer weekends. Typically, we’re at a 98% occupancy rate for the first two home games. This year, we’re at a 95% occupancy rate, so down a touch,” Meisner said.
Adding the traveler confidence studies he’s looked at show percentage points similar to pre pandemic levels, which bodes well for the rest of 2021 and beyond.
Hotel occupancy is up 23% from this time last year, due in large part to fans being allowed back into Lambeau Field this season. But once the packers season ends, it’s Discover Green Bay’s hope that activities in areas like Door County keep the tourists coming.
“The wintertime is definitely a lower time for tourism relatively, but then, you get into the spring and summer months where you know the weather brings people into town, vacations from southern Wisconsin and down into Illinois are coming up and they’re coming to Door County and coming through Green Bay to go on their vacations,” Meisner said.
Adding families taking extended weekend trips helps drive tourism when Packers season is over.
Secretary designee for the Wisconsin Department of Tourism Anne Seyers says people have been spending a lot of time on the state’s travel website, as tourists pick what they want to check off their bucket lists.
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