TUSCUMBIA – According to a newly released report from the Alabama Tourism Department (ATD),
visitors to Colbert County in 2024 spent more than $115 million during their trips, marking another year
of growth for the local tourism economy. The report, titled “Alabama Tourism Industry Economic Impact
2024,” was compiled using the tourism economic impact model developed by Dr. Keivan Deravi of
Auburn University at Montgomery.
The annual study measures the economic influence of tourism across Alabama, providing detailed
insights into job creation, visitor spending, revenue, and tax collections. In 2024, Colbert County’s total
travel-related expenditures reached $115,308,140, an increase of about 1.4 percent from $113,680,947
in 2022. Travel-related earnings totaled $38,326,584, with 1,527 direct and indirect jobs supported by
the industry, including 1,020 direct tourism-related positions. Annual state lodging tax collections rose to
$568,038 from $560,022 in 2022.
Notably, Colbert County continues to trend upward despite having no new lodging properties added in
almost ten years. The steady growth reflects both strong demand and the area’s continued success in
drawing visitors to existing hotels, campgrounds, and short-term rentals.
“These results show just how strong the draw of Colbert County is,” said Susann Hamlin, President of
Colbert County Tourism and Convention Bureau. “We have seen consistent growth even without adding
new accommodations, which tells us we are doing a great job of keeping our attractions fresh and
relevant and making the most of what we have.”
Looking ahead, the county is poised for even more growth. New projects such as the highly anticipated
Muscle Shoals Sportsplex are expected to attract additional visitors and stimulate further economic
activity.
“We are entering an exciting chapter,” Hamlin added. “The Muscle Shoals Sportsplex and other future
developments are going to be game changers, creating new reasons for visitors to come and increasing
the demand for lodging and other services. We are ready to support that growth.”
Statewide, Alabama welcomed around 29 million visitors in 2024, setting a record for the fourth straight
year. Visitor spending grew by nearly $1 billion annually for four of the past five years, reaching $23.9
billion in 2024 and generating $1.3 billion in state and local tax revenues.
For more details, view the full report here:
https://cdn.sanity.io/files/cea57u1c/production/3c4ed5718e6fbc646acd5ef4e1466b835aa19998.pdf. To
explore what Colbert County has to offer, visit www.colbertcountytourism.org or follow
@ColbertTourism on social media.
Media Release/Maryanne Floyd, Director of Communications Colbert County Tourism
