A portion of Ocean City's room tax is reinvested into destination marketing, creating an annual advertising budget of more than $10.6 million. This investment delivers significant results. According to third-party data. from SMARI, every $1 spent promoting Ocean City generated an estimated $260 in visitor spending, fueling local businesses and strengthening the region's economy.
Ocean City at a Glance
While our sunny skies and beautiful beaches speak for themselves, there’s even more to love about Ocean City.
Here are some impressive facts and figures about our town:
10
Miles of Beach
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.
200
Restaurants
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.
10,554
Room Units
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.
100+
Events
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.
Tourism Is Our Economic Engine, Driving The Local Economy.
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:
Tax Revenue By The Numbers
Amount of tax generated through room tax and property tax of hospitality-type businesses
$140.3M
Federal
$245.4M
State & Local
$24.8M
Room
$1.9M
Food & Bev.
$385.7M
Total
Visitor Spending
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.
Marketing Impact
Employment In The Area
Tourism supports more than 14,600 jobs in the area, both directly and indirectly, accounting for 55.6% 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.