Ocean City is known for its sun, sand, and surf, but tourism's impact reaches every corner of our community. Here are some key facts and figures that demonstrate the important role tourism plays in supporting our town, economy, and way of life.
We are home to 10 miles of FREE beach stretching from the Inlet to the Delaware line, complemented by a 3-mile boardwalk full of shops, restaurants, games, and activities for everyone to enjoy.
Visitors can enjoy over 200 restaurants, ranging from casual boardwalk bites and local seafood to fine dining with ocean or bayfront views, offering enough variety to try a new spot every day for more than six months.
Ocean City welcomes over 8 million visitors each year, and with 115 hotels offering more than 10,000 rooms along the barrier island, there's a comfortable place to stay no matter your style, budget, or length of stay.
Each year, hundreds of events take place, from classic car shows and music festivals to sporting tournaments, plus the area proudly hosts the World's Largest Billfishing Tournament, the White Marlin Open.
As the largest industry in the coastal area, tourism drives the local economy. In Ocean City and beyond, visitor spending generates billions in revenue, supporting local businesses, jobs, schools, and public services. It also helps lower taxes and enhances the quality of life for both residents and visitors alike. Here’s a look at some of the most recent stats:
When people choose to visit Ocean City, they are single-handedly contributing to the success of our local farmers, artisans, restaurant businesses, and more.
Ocean City welcomed 3.4 million visitors who spent $2.3 billion in 2024.
Direct Impact: Visitor spending directly creates jobs, wages, and tax revenue in tourism-related businesses.
Indirect Impacts: Those businesses purchase good and services from suppliers, generating additional economic activity.
Ocean City's 6% room tax is a powerful economic driver. Forty percent is reinvested in tourism marketing and 60% supports the Town's general fund. This funding creates an annual advertising budget of more than $10.6 million that attracts visitors, supports local businesses, and generates economic activity. According to SMARI, every $1 invested in promoting Ocean City returns an estimated $260 in visitor spending, benefiting residents, businesses, and the community as a whole.
Tourism supports more than 16,885 jobs in the area, both directly and indirectly, accounting for 63.9% of all jobs in Worcester County.
Of the county’s 19 largest employers, 13 are in the hospitality industry, meaning 70% of the area’s top employers rely on tourism to keep the community thriving.
