Tourism in the Peach State broke records last year, according to new data by the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD).
Georgia welcomed the largest number of visitors the state has ever seen during calendar year 2022, according to GDEcD. Approximately 167.7 million domestic and international visitors in 2022 brought in $39.8 billion in spending, surpassing the previous record set in 2019 by $2 billion.
As we celebrate a record-breaking year for Georgia tourism, we’re looking forward to the future at the Governor’s Tourism Conference.
From the North Georgia Mountains to the Golden Isles and everywhere in between, we encourage everyone to visit and @ExploreGeorgia! pic.twitter.com/5Lqt757NLv— Governor Brian P. Kemp (@GovKemp) September 12, 2023
Total economic impact for Georgia travel and tourism generated $73 billion in total economic impact and supported more than 442,600 jobs in 2022 – both year-over-year increases from 2021, GDEcD notes.
In regards to funds directed to state and local tax revenue through tourism, 2022 saw a record $4.7 billion – a 10.1 percent increase over the previous record year of 2021 – generated.
Gov. Brian Kemp attributed last year’s record-breaking tourism numbers to the state’s “incredible natural wonders, our great small towns with welcoming families, our major cities and attractions, and much more.”
“This historic growth is evidence that our pro-business policies are working, allowing us to compete like never before in all four corners of the state. I applaud the hardworking men and women who work in this industry, Explore Georgia, and the Department of Economic Development who made these record-breaking numbers possible,” Kemp added.
GDEcD also announced this week that Georgia maintained its number five market share ranking for domestic overnight visitation among all 50 states and Washington, D.C. for the third year in a row in 2022.
“Tourism is a key part of Georgia’s economic development success story, with benefits that spread across communities in all regions of our state,” GDEcD Commissioner Pat Wilson stated. “The latest numbers are a testament to Georgia’s dedicated tourism industry professionals who constantly provide the best visitor experience possible, bolstered by the great work Explore Georgia has done to market the state as a top travel destination.”
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Georgia Star News and The Star News Network.
Photo “Savannah, Georgia” by Roman Eugeniusz. CC BY-SA 3.0.
