APPLETON, Wis.- Business is booming along College Avenue in Appleton.
"This is three years in a row where our tourism spending has been up over 5 percent year over year," said Fox Cities Convention and Visitor's Bureau executive director, Pam Seidl.
City leaders say they believe the growth in tourists is because of the growth in their community.
"Our continued focus on the arts here in Appleton is really going to continue to drive tourism," said Appleton Mayor Tim Hanna.
Events like Mile of Music draw thousands to the city, but the mayor is also focusing on another outlet to attract eyes to Appleton. He's diving into expo center plans starting next week.
"Really get into the thick of the planning and start to see some activity over in that neighborhood," said Mayor Hanna.
All those out of towners mean good things for businesses in the Fox Valley.
"Visitor spending impacted over 5,000 jobs here in the Fox Cities," said Seidl.
However, people aren't just making a living off of tourists, it's also helping their pocket books.
"Without the money that tourists infuse into this area every resident would have to spend $940 more on local taxes," said Seidl.
The study estimates that more than 5,000 people work in the tourism industry in the Fox Valley.
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