How new airport will help Columbus tourism
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Columbus sits within a 10-hour drive of nearly half of the American population. That accessibility is one of the keys to the growth of Columbus as a tourism and business destination.
The new airport at John Glenn could change that pitch to visitors.
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Columbus does big events: National championships, the Quarterhorse Congress, the Arnold Fitness Festival. When Columbus bids, they typically succeed.
“What does the arena look like?” Greater Columbus Sports Commission President and CEO Linda Logan said. “How many seats are there? But they’re also looking at the number of daily flights, the number of direct flights, and they’re going to make an educated decision based on all those things.”
Experience Columbus data shows 50 million people visit Columbus each year. Of that 50 million, 80% of them drive here.
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But with the new airport expansion on its way in 2029, Columbus tourism leaders are focused on recruiting new events on a global scale.
“We obviously know that we can compete with any city in America for those events in the United States, but next up is that international traveler,” Experience Columbus President and CEO Brian Ross said. “It is the time somebody needs to get from point A to point B, so the more direct flights you have, the better off you are.”
When Columbus bid to host the Democratic and Republican national conventions in prior years, the bid was softened by a lack of hotel space, local transportation options, and direct flights compared to other competing cities. Hotel expansions downtown have eased some concerns and now, with an increase to 36 proposed gates in the new airport, Columbus aims to meet rising air travel demands.
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“I would imagine because our infrastructure has grown,” Global Location Strategies President and CEO Didi Caldwell said. “We’ve got more hotels, we’ve got more facilities, we’ll have a bigger lift that those numbers will continue, perhaps double.
“Columbus with, you know, over 2 million people in the Metropolitan Statistical area, and also, all of the economic activity and the growth that you’re experiencing there, I think it really bodes well to have and attract the airlines,” Caldwell added. “We’ll be able to better represent the brand and culture of Columbus and Franklin County.”
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