Cape May County Tops NJ Tourism Spending at $8.44B

Cape May County claimed the top spot in New Jersey for visitor spending in 2025, marking the first time in 32 years the county has outperformed all others statewide.

The county recorded $8.44 billion in visitor spending, a 4.2% increase over 2024. Lodging alone brought in $3.59 billion, up 6.9% from the previous year. The 12 million visitors supported more than 42,000 jobs and drove spending in food and beverage, retail, and recreation.

Cape May County Tourism Director Diane Wieland credited the result to a strategy that expands promotion beyond the traditional summer season into fall and winter months. The approach has worked: 52% of visitors now return two or more times a year, according to the department's survey.

The county targets 30 million people within a 300-mile radius, spanning Greater Philadelphia, North and Central New Jersey, New York, Baltimore to Washington, Northern Virginia, and Connecticut.

Cape May County launches a multichannel marketing campaign this summer promoting FIFA matches and America's 250th anniversary celebrations.