Overland Park's visitor economy crossed the $1 billion mark for the first time in 2025, according to the city's tourism office.

Visit Overland Park announced on Sept. 10, that 5.3 million visitors generated more than $1 billion in economic impact last year. Visit Overland Park called it a record.

The milestone builds on strong 2024 numbers. Warren Wilkinson, president and CEO of Visit Overland Park, wrote in a May 2026 LinkedIn post that visitors spent $964 million in the city in 2024. That spending produced a total economic impact of $1.5 billion, supported nearly 11,000 jobs and generated $496 million in labor income.

Tax revenue also climbed. Visitor spending in 2025 generated $108 million in state and local tax revenue, up from $103 million in 2024, according to Visit Overland Park and Wilkinson's LinkedIn post. The organization said visitor spending offset an average of $1,280 per household in annual property taxes.

Sports tourism has been a major driver. Visit Overland Park launched a sports tourism strategy in fall 2022, leaning on facilities such as the Scheels Overland Park Soccer Complex, the BVRC and AdventHealth Sports Park. The soccer complex has been named a top facility nationally by Livability.com and Sports Planning Guide, according to Visit Overland Park.

The U.S. Youth Soccer Midwest Regional Championships, held annually at the Scheels complex, drew more than 6,800 attendees in 2024. The event generates an estimated $8.2 million in direct economic impact each year, according to the organization.

"Tourism growth is not about volume alone," Wilkinson wrote in his May 2026 LinkedIn post during National Travel and Tourism Week. "It's about attracting visitors who respect the community and contribute positively to the local economy."

Overland Park's growth mirrors a statewide trend. Kansas tourism generated $13.5 billion in total economic impact in 2025, sustaining more than 91,600 jobs and $857.3 million in state and local tax revenue, according to Kansas Tourism.

Visit Overland Park said the full 2025 Economic Impact Report is available for download on its website.