It has been a fruitful eight years for Georgia tourism, thanks in large part to the remarkably close relationship between Governor Nathan Deal and the state’s economic development wing. The industry is one of the state’s most substantial, boasting staggering numbers that lend themselves to considerable influence under the Gold Dome. It comes as no surprise then that each of Georgia’s seven candidates for governor appeared at Tuesday morning’s annual ‘State of Tourism’ breakfast ready to make their case as to why they are best suited to continue Deal’s legacy as a business-friendly leader.
Back to those numbers for a moment, because if you aren’t familiar with the scale of the state’s tourism industry they may come as an eye opener. In 2016 the industry’s economic impact in Georgia was an eye popping $60.8 billion, an increase of 3% over the previous year. It generated $3.1 billion in direct state and local taxes, equivalent to $870 per Georgia household. Over 450,000 Georgians in total are employed in the industry, accounting for over 10% of all payroll employment.
The Peach State saw more than 105 million domestic visitors last year, an increase of nearly 4% from 2015, with an additional 1.29 million international visitors from around the world. Aided by the burgeoning film industry and major attractions including Mercedes-Benz Stadium in downtown Atlanta, expect those numbers to continue to climb in years ahead.
For Georgia’s gubernatorial candidates, particularly the 5 Republicans in the race, there is a delicate line to straddle between the state’s ‘chamber of commerce’ wing and the traditional GOP base. That balancing act was on full display on Tuesday morning at the College Football Hall of Fame, where each candidate spoke to the large gathering of industry leaders to kick off Georgia’s annual Tourism, Hospitality & Arts Day.
Lt. Governor Casey Cagle, the presumed frontrunner for the GOP nomination, appealed to the sensibilities of the audience with a decidedly Deal-esque stump speech. “This industry is reliant on Georgia continuing to grow,” he told the crowd, making the case that with his connections and experience he is the man to continue in the current governor’s business-friendly footsteps.
Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle
Former state Senator Hunter Hill and political neophyte Clay Tippins, both military veterans, pushed their ‘outsider’ credentials while puffing up their conservative bonafides. Hill in particular gave a preview of what the post-session primary battle might look like, repeatedly harping on the need to get away from “weak career politicians” while all but side-eyeing Cagle, who stood just off stage. Tippins, for his part, is offering himself as an alternative to the rest of the GOP field not only by being the only true political outsider, (he has never held any elected office) but also by being the only Republican candidate to refuse to take a pledge to sign an Religious Freedom bill should he be elected.
Former state Sen. Hunter Hill
That last point was one referenced by the event’s hosts, who as members of the state’s business community have been clear about their desire for such a bill to not re-emerge in the state legislature. State Rep. Ron Stephens (R-Savannah), who spoke as the audience waited on mercurial state Sen. Michael Williams to make his way to the event, (he eventually showed up) called Deal’s refusal to sign House Bill 757 in 2016 the “signature moment” of the governor’s time in office. Indeed the move, while infuriating the evangelical wing of the state’s Republican base, may have cemented Deal’s legacy as the most business-friendly governor in Georgia history.
Secretary of State Brian Kemp too may have alluded to his angle in this scrum of a primary as the only candidate to point at rural Georgia and even agritourism and how they relate to the tourism industry as a whole. It’s sometimes easy to forget that Atlanta wields much less influence than its high powered lobbyists and lawyers may think when it comes to a statewide Republican primary, a fact which Kemp will hope to leverage come May.
Meanwhile on the Democratic side of the aisle, former House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams and state Rep. Stacey Evans were quick to declare that they would never sign any form of ‘Religious Freedom’ legislation, with Abrams going so far as to call such a law outright discriminatory. The pair have been involved in their own quiet political duel over recent months, with its racial tension and intra-party drama ready to ramp up a notch the moment session ends.
Below – see state Rep. and Democratic candidate for governor Stacey Evans talk about the HOPE Scholarship and how it aids the tourism industry.
