You want more reasons why New Jersey will benefit greatly from the 2026 FIFA World Cup? Consider this: The state already is doing great financially from tourism.
On Thursday, the state announced it had record-breaking growth in spending and visitation in 2024.
New Jersey welcomed 123.7 million total visitors in 2024, up three million visitors from 2023.
The day-visitor volume reached more than 69.9 million, with spending hitting an all-time high of $6.915 billion. And then there’s this: Overnight visits to New Jersey reached 53 million with overnight spending equaling $43.6 billion.
Gov. Phil Murphy obviously was thrilled.
“We are proud that New Jersey continues to bring in new visitors every day to experience the state’s mix of natural beauty, rich history and cultural attractions,” he said. “With landmark events like the FIFA World Cup 2026 and America’s 250th anniversary on the horizon, we cannot wait to show even more travelers, residents and friends the very best of what the Garden State has to offer.”
Other key findings include:
- Visitors spent a record $50.6 billion in New Jersey in 2024, up 3.1% from 2023, with a total economic impact of $80.4 billion across state industries;
- Food and beverage purchases led visitor spending growth, totaling $14.2 billion in 2024, representing 28.1% of overall visitor spending in the state with a 5.2% year-over-year increase;
- Recreation spending reached an all-time high, surpassing $6 billion for the first time – a 2.9% increase from the previous year;
- Visitor industry GDP was $24.7 billion in 2024, accounting for 2.9% of total New Jersey GDP;
- Visitor spending generated $5.4 billion in state and local taxes in 2024, equivalent to $1,545 in tax savings for every household in New Jersey;
- Visitor activity sustained 507,833 New Jersey jobs (or 1-in-12), representing 8.3% of all jobs in the state.
Lt. Gov. Tahesha Way, who oversees tourism, was equally thrilled.
“Thanks to the dedication of our tourism industry members, along with the people of New Jersey who remain our greatest ambassadors, our visitation numbers have continued to rise — with no signs of slowing down,” she said.
“Last year, tourism contributed over $24 billion to the state’s GDP, generated $5.4 billion in state and local tax revenue, and reduced the average New Jersey household tax burden by $1,545. These strong results underscore the vital role tourism plays as an economic driver for our state, and we’re confident the momentum will only grow in the years to come.”
Or, just in time for the World Cup.
The “2024 Economic Impact of Visitors to New Jersey” study, prepared by Tourism Economics, can be found in its entirety here.
