T he 4.4 million visitors who came to Mesa last year delivered a $1.2 billion economic impact to the city, according to a recent annual report.

Visitors spent $749 million or an average of $2.1 million per day on shopping, dining, buying groceries, staying in lodgings such as hotels or short-term rentals, purchasing gas and paying for transportation, according to the city’s tourism partner Visit Mesa that commissioned the study from Tourism Economics.

That spending generated an additional $457.9 million through indirect sales and induced sales.

“Tourism continues to be one of Mesa’s most powerful economic engines, generating tax revenue and supporting jobs that our community relies on,” said Marc Garcia, president and CEO of Visit Mesa in a news release.

“The findings of this study re

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