Oxford saw a 10% increase in overnight visits and a 13% increase in visitor spending in 2023, according to statistics from TourismOhio. The average visitor spends $382 per night in Oxford.
Enjoy Oxford’s executive director Kim Daggy presented these findings at the March 19 city council meeting as part of a 2023 year-in-review for the organization. In 2023, the organization hosted events including the Uptown Music Concert Series, the UniDiversity Festival and Oxtoberfest.
Daggy said the organization is promoting events in Oxford year round and “not just in the shoulder seasons, which we traditionally had done.”
Enjoy Oxford also launched a new website in September 2023, which has since seen a 33% increase in sessions and a 32% increase in site users from 2022. Enjoy Oxford’s impact across social media platforms also increased in 2023, accruing over 24,000 engagements across Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, she said. The organization also redesigned their monthly newsletter, which was recognized by the Ohio Travel Association with a Ruby Award.
“We are gaining new subscribers as we speak,” Daggy said.
Enjoy Oxford’s additional goals include developing Oxford merchandise for purchase and emphasizing historical landmarks across town. The organization also put out advertisements celebrating Oxford’s recognition as the best college town in Ohio for 2023 by Midwestern Traveler, a regional print and online publication that celebrates local travel and tourism across the midwest.
“We like to show our city, our people and our visitors,” Daggy said.
Looking to 2024, Enjoy Oxford plans to continue increasing advertising across Ohio and Michigan to attract tourists. The organization also plans to hold events related to the April 8 eclipse, and continue working with Tri-State Trails on developing bike paths in Oxford.
“You do a wonderful job for the city,” Oxford Mayor William Snavely said following the presentation.
In support of the event, city council passed a resolution to waive fees associated with street closures for the 2024 Annual Summer Music Festival. The free concert series will begin on June 1, and continue every Thursday night through Aug. 31.
