New Orleans has officially crossed a major post-pandemic milestone. According to new data from New Orleans & Company and MMGY Global, the city welcomed 19 million visitors in 2024, marking a 6.4 percent increase from the previous year and reaching a level not seen since 2019.
In total, visitor spending reached $10.4 billion in 2024, up 8.4 percent from 2023 and exceeding 2019’s pre-COVID high.
“I consider 2024 a defining year in our mission to inspire, promote and encourage travel to our city,” said Walt Leger III, President and CEO of New Orleans & Company, in a press statement. “This kind of growth doesn’t happen without implementing successful strategies across multiple sectors of visitors simultaneously, especially in such a competitive environment. It is a direct result of the diligent planning and innovative strategies in sales and marketing employed by the team at New Orleans & Company and our strategic partners throughout the community.
Media accolades reflect that promise, with New Orleans appearing on Time Out’s “Best Cities in the World to Visit in 2024” and ranking No. 4 on Southern Living’s list of “Top 25 Best Cities in the South.” The city also earned the 2024 Best U.S. Food Destination Travelers’ Choice Award from TripAdvisor.
Major cultural moments also contributed to tourism momentum. Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, held in October 2024, brought over 150,000 visitors to the city, packing hotels and boosting air travel to record highs. That one weekend alone is estimated to have generated $500 million in total economic impact.
As New Orleans heads into the second half of 2025, the city is leveraging this momentum to drive even more leisure travel, a prime opportunity for you to promote New Orleans as both a repeat favorite and a fresh experience for new clients.
The tourism and hospitality industry employs more than 80,0000 people in the New Orleans area. Tax revenue paid by visitors earns the city and state tens of millions of dollars for vital services, including education, infrastructure and public safety for Louisiana communities.
For more information, visit neworleans.com.
