CVB: Tourism is an $80M industry locally

Published 8:00 am Wednesday, May 4, 2016

This week communities all over the country are celebrating a key contributor to economic development that most of us don’t often consider. This week is National Travel and Tourism Week and though our minds don’t directly shift to tourism as a generator of local revenue, it carries quite an impact when you take a closer look at the numbers.

According to the Milledgeville Convention & Visitors Bureau, tourism in Milledgeville and Baldwin County results in more than $80 million dollars contributed to the local economy each year. Those dollars come in the form of hotel stays, trips to local museums and other venues, dining at local restaurants, gas and merchandise purchased. Last year, the city of Milledgeville collected more than $500,000 from the hotel/motel tax. When we consider that one event alone — the annual Deep Roots Festival — brings around 10,000 people to downtown Milledgeville every year, those numbers don’t seem all that far-fetched.

This upcoming weekend alone, thousands of visitors we be in town for Georgia College’s spring commencement ceremonies. Graduates will bring in family and guests who will stay at local hotels and eat at area restaurants throughout the weekend. They’ll be leaving dollars behind, adding to the local economy as well.

Any day is a great opportunity to showcase the sights and sounds of Milledgeville and Baldwin County. With the busy travel season kicking off as we inch closer to Memorial Day, we should all keep in mind the impact of travel and tourism dollars on the local community. The industry brings numerous dollars to the community by virtue of historic sites and attractions, not to mention the jobs that are here to meet the demand — at gas stations, hotels and motels, museums and retail stores.

Make an effort to take advantage of this week’s free access to the trolley tours and share this information with others. Be a tourist in your own community — you too, may be surprised at what you discover.