Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1535167
6 B M & T ••• May/June 2025 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com I N T H E N E W S GEORGIA TOURISM INDUSTRY PRESENTS $5 BILLION CHECK TO GOVERNOR KEMP, REPRESENTING STATE AND LOCAL TAX REVENUE GENERATED BY TOURISM The Georgia Association of Convention & Visitors Bureaus joined Governor Kemp and tourism industry profes- sionals from across the state in March to recognize the signif- icant impact and importance of Georgia's tourism industry. After a five-year hiatus, the 2025 Tourism Day at the Capitol put a spotlight on the thriving industry under the gold dome. Governor Kemp was presented with a check by the Georgia Association of Convention & Visitors Bureaus and industry representatives representing the $5 billion in state and local tax revenue generated by tourism-related expendi- tures in 2024. "Tourism plays a vital role in Georgia's economy, pro- viding thousands of jobs, boosting local businesses, and contributing billions in revenue," says Amanda Dyson Thornton, Executive Director, Georgia Association of Convention & Visitors Bureaus. "It's not just about visi- tors; it's about sustaining communities and fostering growth across the state." The tourism industry reaches far and wide across the state with more than 400,000 tourism and hospitality related jobs in Georgia, representing a five percent growth year over year. With more than $40 billion in visitor spending annually, an eight percent growth from 2022 to 2023, Georgia now ranks fifth in the United States for most visited states for domestic travel. Presented by the Georgia Association of Convention & Visitors Bureaus, event sponsors included Georgia's Blue Ridge Fannin County Chamber & CVB, Visit Savannah, Pick Ellijay, Cartersville Bartow County Tourism, and the Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau. About the Georgia Association of Convention & Visitors Bureaus The Georgia Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus (GACVB) is an organization made up of over 100 diverse destination marketing organizations (DMOs) and industry affiliates throughout Georgia, providing services and support to the DMO community. GACVB's mission is to be the unified voice of Georgia's DMOs, offering industry education, advocacy, and professional development opportu- nities. The organization works to elevate the professionalism of the tourism industry, provide ongoing education, facilitate discussions on destination management and marketing, and advocate on both state and national issues impacting Georgia's tourism industry. GACVB also highlights the tourism industry's role as a key economic driver in local com- munities and across the state. www.gacvb.com TRAVEL INDUSTRY LEADERS EMPHASIZE UNITY AND STORYTELLING TO PRESERVE U.S.-CANADA TRAVEL Travel Alliance Partnership Facilitated Tourism Industry Conversation of U.S. & Canada Cross - Border Relations In March, theTravel Alliance Partnership (TAP) held a vir- tual conversation, "Effects of Policy & Headlines on Cross- Border Tourism". The five-person panel represented Canadian travel media, tour operators and U.S./Canadian border destinations and discussed the tourism landscape between the two countries amid economic shifts, political ten- sions and evolving consumer sentiments. Despite tariffs and the corresponding headlines, the tourism industry remains hopeful and motivated, emphasizing the need for collabora- tion, continued investment and thoughtful storytelling of the cultural ties that bind the two nations. TAP CEO Nicole Mahoney moderated the hour-long dis- cussion among the following panel participants: • Christopher Mitchell, Canadian travel influencer and director of Travel Blog Exchange (TBEX) • Catherine Dawson March, travel writer and editor, The Globe and Mail • Richard Arnold, Canadian tour operator,Atlantic Tours • Corey Fram, director,1000 Islands International Tourism Council