Gov. Kemp: Georgia breaks tourism record, second year in a row

GEORGIA (WJBF) – Governor Brian Kemp and the Georgia Department of Economic Development announced the state broke its tourism record for the second year in a row at a Tuesday media conference.

In the annual Georgia Governor’s Tourism Conference, Kemp stated 171 million domestic and international visitors entered the state last year, helping eclipse previous records with $43.6 billion spent.

“Georgia continues to grow as a top destination for travelers and businesses alike,” said Kemp. “We’ve seen unprecedented visitation across all regions of the Peach State over the last couple years, a testament to the unique attractions, natural resources and cultural institutions that make Georgia such a desirable place to visit. We’re grateful for all our tourism partners statewide who support jobs in communities in all four corners of Georgia.”

In addition to surpassing the previous record, the Governor’s Office reported that Georgia maintained the No. 5 market share ranking among the 50 states and Washington, D.C. for the fourth consecutive year.

“These numbers are the latest confirmation that our partnership approach to economic development across all industries – including tourism – is putting Georgia on travelers’ minds like never before,” said GDEcD Commissioner Pat Wilson.

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