Tourism generates $63.1 billion in economic impact
Gov. Nathan Deal Monday announced that the state’s tourism industry generated a record-breaking $63.1 billion in economic impact in 2017.
That’s an increase of 3.8 percent over last year, according to the U.S. Travel Association and Tourism Economics.
“The tourism industry contributes significantly to the growth and prosperity of Georgia’s economy,” says Deal. “Last year, a record number of visitors traveled to Georgia to explore our mountains, coastline, thriving cities and small towns.”
The governor’s remarks come at the start of National Travel and Tourism Week. Deals says more than 460,000 jobs in Georgia are “created by tourist expenditures.”
In 2017, visitor spending in Georgia generated more than $3.3 billion in state and local tax revenue. According to the U.S. Travel Association and Tourism Economics, Georgia’s total tourism demand is 39 percent higher than its pre-recession level in 2008.
