Tourism is looking up for Jackson County

News

Thursday, 15 June 2023 10:36

State economic impact report reveals an 11.5% increase in tourism for Jackson County.
In 2022, travelers spent more than $86.2million while visiting Jackson County, representing an 11.5% increase over 2021, according to a report released yesterday by the Alabama Tourism Department (ATD). The 2022 Alabama Tourism Economic Report was conducted for the ATD using a model created by Keivan Deravi, an economist in the School of Business at Auburn University in Montgomery.

The purpose of the study is to estimate the economic impact of the travel and tourism industry in Alabama for 2022 and includes information on the number of jobs attributed to tourism, spending and revenue figures and the most visited counties. Dr. Deravi’s model analyzes tax revenues collected by the State to provide the annual travel economic impact study.

In 2022, travel-related total expenditures in Jackson County reached more than $86.2million, up from $77.3million in 2021. Travel-related earnings showed a 6.7% increase from $24.5million in 2021 to $26.1million in 2022. 1,094 individuals were employed directly and indirectly in the Jackson County tourism industry, a 12.3% increase over 2021. Every $139,041 of expenditures in the travel industry creates one direct job in Alabama. Economists estimate that for every two direct jobs created, the Alabama economy indirectly creates one additional job.

“The tourism industry has a direct impact on the county’s total economy,” stated Ricky Roden, President and CEO of the Mountain Lakes Chamber of Commerce. “The growth of travel-related spending in Jackson County is at an all-time high, and we believe we will see even more growth in 2023.”

Roden recently presented four 2024 fishing tournaments proposals to the Scottsboro City Council: the Angler’s Choice Tournament, that brings anglers from all over the United States; the Toyota Series Fishing Tournament and the Alabama Bass Federation Tournament, which is comprised of two tournaments.

Roden proposed the Chamber be responsible for a portion, with the city coming in to be responsible for a portion, as well. Council members moved these four proposals to the next regular meeting, where they will be considered for a vote.

According to the Governor Kay Ivey, tourists visited Alabama’s beaches, campgrounds, state parks and hotels in record numbers in 2022. In a decade, the amount spent more than doubles from $10.6billion in 2012 to $22.4billion in 2022, with the trend on pace for even greater growth during the current year.

The travel industry benefits the state’s local economy. State law mandates that three-quarters of the four percent state lodging tax goes directly into Alabama’s General Fund that the Alabama Legislature spends for services to all residents in the state. Last year, about $82,457,000 generated by tourists benefited all residents of the state.