only on decorahnews.com: Iowa Tourism Office says tourism has a $27 million impact in Winneshiek County

Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum is just one of Winneshiek County's tourist attractions

Tourism now has a nearly $27 million impact on Winneshiek County.

That's the conclusion of the latest study of statewide tourism impact by the Iowa Tourism Office.  The state agency has been compiling figures each year on the impact that tourists have on local economies.  In 2007 the state agency concluded tourism had a $22.27 million impact in Winneshiek County.  The latest Iowa Tourism Office survey, which covers 2012, now places that figure at $26.91 million.  That represents more than a 20 percent increase in six years

The Iowa Tourism Office says tourism in Iowa generates more than $7.6 billion in expenditures, employs 64,400 people statewide and generates $328 million in state taxes.