MONTGOMERY-Travelers spent $249 million and were responsible for 2,927 jobs last year in Lauderdale County, according to a report conducted for the Alabama Tourism Department by Montgomery economist Dr. Keivan Deravi. That figure represents a 2.7% increase in traveler spending on hotels, restaurants, shopping and transportation.
The Alabama travel industry grew by more than $1 billion in 2018 to a record of $15.5 billion in expenditures, and increased jobs by 11,984 to some 198,890 employees, Gov. Kay Ivey announced today. She noted that the industry grew by 8.5% and attracted more than 1 million additional visitors to top 27 million guests for the first time.
Dr. Keivan Deravi
The tourism industry generates millions of dollars for state and local government. The hospitality industry was responsible for $681 million in state taxes and an additional $273 million in local revenue for a total of $954 million, an increase of 8.5% over the previous year, according to the study. Some $76 million was generated in state lodgings taxes, of which 75% benefits the State General Fund.
Deravi says that without those taxes, each household in Alabama would have had to pay $507 in additional taxes to maintain current service levels.
Media Release/Brian Jones
Alabama Tourism Department
