Ahead of OC Rental Vote, Tourism Numbers Down

The boardwalk of Ocean City, Md the morning of Memorial Day Weekend.

(OCEAN CITY, Md) – As Ocean City residents vote for a special election, regarding short term rental agreements, the city has shared some declining tourism numbers.

A report revealed the number of visitors fell to 588,000 visitors from 803,300 in 2024. The same report says the length of visitor’s stays dropped from just over three days to just under two.

This decline in tourism numbers also means a decline in the amount of money Ocean City is bringing in during their busy season.

According to Airbnb, hosts and guests contributed $327.8 million in total tax revenue to Maryland, supporting 15,500 total jobs across the state.

But the potential for a vote upholding strict limits on short-term rentals means the negative effects of declining tourism could be compounded, hurting Marylanders and putting local businesses at risk.