MONTGOMERY– Travelers spent $227 million and were responsible for 2,758 jobs last year in Lauderdale County, according to a report conducted for the Alabama Tourism Department. This represents a 8.5% increase in traveler spending on hotels, restaurants, shopping and transportation.
Estimates show that statewide the tourism industry grew by 7.7% with more than 25 million visitors spending $12.6 billion last year according to
Lee Sentell – Alabama Tourism Director
the report conducted by Auburn University Montgomery.
“The tourism numbers for 2015 bring great economic news for Alabama,” state tourism director Lee Sentell said. “The dollars spent on tourism creates jobs, it grows local economies and generates needed tax revenues. Travel spending in Alabama has increased by 86% over the previous 13 years.”
Without the dollars collected by the tourism industry each household in the state would end up paying $424 in additional taxes according to the report developed by economist Dr. Keivan Deravi.
The top five counties with the largest travel-related expenditures are: Baldwin County with $3.9 billion in travel-related spending, Jefferson County was second with $1.8 billion, Madison County was third with $1.1 billion, Mobile County ranked fourth with $1 billion and Montgomery County was fifth with $777 million.
The complete state tourism economic impact report will be available in early May.
Media Reelase/Florence/Lauderdal Tourism/Brian S. Jones
Alabama Tourism Department
