City of Douglas Public Information Director Georgia Henderson and Douglas Media Relations/Event Coordinator Blondale Thomas attended the Georgia Department of Economic Development’s Tourism, Hospitality and Arts Day at the Georgia State Capital this week to represent the City of Douglas and the Magnolia Midlands Travel Association (MMTA).
Tourism, Hospitality, and Arts Day is a two-day event for Georgia tourism industry partners.
As part of Tourism Day events, Henderson and Thomas attended educational workshops that reviewed Tourism’s FY18 Media Plan and how tourism product development can boost our city/county economy. Event attendees were treated to a reception hosted by Atlanta Magazine, which publishes the state’s annual publication, the official Georgia Travel Guide. On Tuesday, Jan. 24, Douglas tourism representatives joined Governor Nathan Deal, Commissioner Pat Wilson, and other tourism professionals to unveil the 2017 Georgia Travel Guide celebrating the “Year of Film.” This year’s travel guide front cover features actor Ian Somerhalder from The Vampire Diaries, one of several films currently using locations in Georgia for sets.
“This is a great time to meet with other tourism professionals across the state and to visit with our state legislators to share how important tourism is to our region,” says Georgia Henderson, Public Information Director and MMTA President.
Tourism professionals along with partner organizations including the Georgia Association of Convention & Visitors Bureaus, Georgia Agritourism, Georgia Arts Network, Georgia Hotel and Lodging Association, Georgia Restaurant Association, Georgia DNR, and others presented Governor Deal with a $3 billion check that represented the impact tourism has in Georgia.
According to GDEcD’s Tourism Impact report for 2015, Coffee County’s tourism industry supported 532 jobs, generated $71.9 million in direct tourism spending, created $2.7 million in state tax revenues, and generated $2.2 million in local tax revenues. Without tourism dollars, each Coffee County household would need to be taxed an additional $342 per year to replace tourism economic activity. Tourism is big business in Douglas – Coffee County and Georgia!
Georgia tourism partners with Governor Deal
– Submitted