Kick-off to summer means Alabama’s successful tourism season full speed ahead
PROTECTED CONTENT
If you’re a current subscriber, log in below. If you would like to subscribe, please click the subscribe tab above.
Username and Password Help
Please enter your email and we will send you a password reset link.
Eye on Politics
Paul DeMarco
As the summer season is upon us, Alabama is proving to be one of the most sought out destinations for travelers from around the nation.
From the mountains in North Alabama to the Gulf Coast beaches, the state offers some of the most diverse topography in the country.
The beaches in Baldwin and Mobile counties attract thousands of visitors each year to play in their white sand and clear blue water, but they are also destinations for great golfing and fishing. In addition, fresh seafood brings those who want to enjoy some of the best culinary delights the state has to offer.
The summer months also will attract those that want to see higher elevations. As the state celebrates trails the next two years, hikers, bikers and those that enjoy floating down one of Alabama’s many rivers will also take advantage of the great outdoor recreation. The hills and valleys that make up the southernmost peaks of the Appalachian Mountains provide some of the best trail adventures in the east coast.
Finally, the state’s agritourism industry has also become a magnet for those that want to visit Alabama farms to pick fresh fruit and vegetables. All summer you can find farmers markets across the state offering a bountiful of crops just picked to take straight back to your kitchen table.
So what does the boom in tourism mean for our state? Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey and Tourism Director Lee Sentell report that last year there were almost 29 million tourists who made Alabama their destination of choice. With that, they spent some $23.9 billion.
Actually four of the past five years in a row Alabama’s tourism dollars have increased by almost $1 billion. This is no surprise, as those vacationing in the state have increased 13 out of the past 14 years.
This success in tourism is important to the state’s labor market, as well, because there more than 250,000 jobs supported by the state’s hospitality industry. And $88 million go to the state’s general fund budget, which contributes to a more diverse economic impact to support state functions and agencies.
Thus, tourism is a significant sector of Alabama’s growing economy that both brings new visitors to the state and provides outdoor adventures for those that call Alabama home.
So this summer while you are enjoying what Alabama has to offer, know you are contributing to the state’s very successful tourism industry.
Paul DeMarco is a former member of the Alabama House of Representatives and can be found on X, formerly Twitter, at Paul_DeMarco.
