The State Capitol Tuesday played host to the state’s annual Tourism, Hospitality and Arts Day, which celebrates and recognizes the tourism and hospitality industries and the massive impact they have on the Georgia economy.
Gov. Brian Kemp accepts the Georgia Tourism “check”
Explore Georgia, the tourism arm of the Georgia Department of Economic Development, came bearing good news, announcing record visitation and economic impact numbers for 2018, the most recent year to have statistics tabulated.
According to the numbers Georgia welcomed 111.7 million visitors in 2018, who collectively spent $36.9 billion throughout the state directly. The state’s tourism industry employs more than 478,000 in total. Governor Brian Kemp was joined by industry leaders and key legislators to accept a symbolic check for $3.4 billion, the total of state and local tax revenue generated by tourism-related expenditures for the calendar year.
“As visitors continue to discover Georgia’s unexpected destinations that range from the North Georgia Mountains to Cumberland Island, our economy continues to grow, new jobs are created, and our communities thrive,” said Pat Wilson, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development. “The tourism, hospitality, and arts industries are constantly propelling our state’s places, culture, stories, and people to the forefront – showing the world why Georgia is the best place to vacation, live, and do business.”
Explore Georgia also took Tuesday’s festivities as an opportunity to introduce the 2020 Explore Georgia Travel Guide, the state’s official visitor’s guide that provides “both information and inspiration” on the state’s best tourist destinations. The guide can be found online or at any of the state’s 11 Visitor Information Centers.
