TUSCUMBIA-Visitors from around the world, who make their way to Colbert County to tour its museums and other attractions, enjoy the outdoors and meet friendly people, pump more than $50 million a year into its economy.
National Travel and Tourism Week is May 3-11. Tourism executives in the Alabama and throughout the nation will use the weeklong observance to promote tourism in their communities, tout its economic benefits and honor employees of travel-related businesses.
Susann Hamlin, executive director of the Colbert County Tourism and Convention Bureau, said tourism is a major industry in the
Susann Hamlin
county. “We have been in business, promoting our county since 1983, when the legislator passed an Act that created the tourism office,” Hamlin said. Since that time, we have increased our tourism product significantly and continued to be a viable economic driver in our community.
The Alabama Tourism Department reports that in 2013, 23.5 million visitors to the state spent almost $11 billion at hotels, restaurants and retailers and for transportation.
A study conducted by Auburn University Montgomery found that travel spending in Alabama increased 51 percent between 2004 and 2013.
Lee Sentell – Alabama Tourism Director
Alabama Tourism Director Lee Sentell said tourism spending helps grow local economies and generates tax revenue. “Without the money collected by the tourism industry, every household in Alabama would have pay almost $400 in additional taxes each year to keep the state’s budgets at their current levels, Sentell said. More than 163,000 Alabamians are employed in travel-related jobs in Alabama,” he said.
“We expect the number of tourists to Colbert County and the entire Muscle Shoals area to increase this summer,” Hamlin said. “We are already receiving a record number of inquiries from across the nation and our stream of visitors from around the nation and internationally have increased significantly over the past few weeks. With the release of the Muscle Shoals documentary, the reopening of the Alabama Music Hall of Fame, and the expanded hours at FAME and at 3614 Jackson Highway, we are definitely on track for increased tourism spending. The Helen Keller Home has been seeing record numbers of tourists recently with walk-in traffic increases that are dramatic. Also, we have added so many new festivals and events that bring people in from outside the area. All of this adds greatly to the tourism product we offer the traveling public,” she said.
Colbert County also attracts many travelers from the Natchez Trace Parkway, which transverses the western end of the county. A 
study by the U.S, Geological Survey found that in 2012, more than5.6 million visitors used the parkway, which stretches 444 miles from Natchez, Miss., to Nashville, Tenn., spending almost $126 million along the way.
“We are looking forward to the opening of the new visitor center along the Parkway at Colbert Ferry. This facility will help to draw travelers off the scenic Parkway and into the Muscle Shoals area.” Hamlin said.
For maps, brochures and information about attractions, lodging, outdoor venues, festivals and special events in the Muscle Shoals area, contact the Colbert County Tourism and Convention Bureau at 256-383-0783 or via e-mail at colberttourism@comcast.net
MEDIA RELEASE/COLBERT COUNTY TOURISM OFFICE/SUSANN HAMLIN DIRECTOR
