ATLANTA – Tourism remains an important industry for the Peach State, as visitors spent $21 billion in Georgia during 2010, state officials boasted Wednesday.
That’s an 8.3 percent increase compared to 2009, new numbers from the U.S. Travel Association indicate.
The spending by domestic and international tourists translates into more than 233,800 jobs connected to the tourism industry, according to state officials. The spending also led to $1.56 billion in state and local tax revenue to Georgia, which resulted in a $459 tax savings for each household in the state, officials said.
“Georgia’s tourism industry plays a vital role in our economic prosperity and improving the quality of life for all Georgians,” Gov. Nathan Deal said in a news release. “In a challenging economic climate, tourism has been a source of strength as more and more people discover what Georgia has to offer.”
The number of international travelers to Georgia in 2010 increased 19 percent, officials said.