Atlanta, GA ~ Atlanta, GA - The state of Georgia has once again broken tourism records for the second year in a row, maintaining its No. 5 market share ranking among all 50 states and Washington, D.C. This announcement was made by Governor Brian P. Kemp at the annual Georgia Governor's Tourism Conference, where he shared that the state welcomed 5 million more visitors last year than in 2022, reaching a new high of 171 million domestic and international visitors.

According to Governor Kemp, these travelers spent a total of $43.6 billion on Georgia's hotels, restaurants, transportation, and other local businesses. This amount surpassed the previous record set in 2022 by nearly $4 billion.

"Georgia continues to grow as a top destination for travelers and businesses alike," said Governor 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."

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The tourism industry in Georgia has not only brought in record-breaking numbers but has also generated a significant economic impact for the state. In total during 2023, it generated a $79.7 billion statewide economic impact and supported more than 463,400 jobs - an increase of over 20,000 jobs from the previous year.

Moreover, the tourism industry also contributed to record-breaking tax revenues for the state. In 2023 alone, it generated $5 billion in state and local tax revenues - a $300 million or 7.2% increase from the previous record set in 2022.

GDEcD Commissioner Pat Wilson emphasized that tourism is one of Georgia's largest economic contributors and plays a crucial role in supporting jobs and generating tax revenues that benefit local communities across the state. He also praised the partnership approach to economic development across all industries, including tourism, for putting Georgia on travelers' minds like never before.

The three-day Georgia Governor's Tourism Conference, presented by Explore Georgia, GDEcD's tourism office, is the premier annual event for the state's travel and hospitality industry. This year's conference was held at the Georgia World Congress Center's (GWCC) new signature hotel, the Signia by Hilton Atlanta, to showcase one of the state's premier convention destinations.

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Mark Jaronski, GDEcD Chief Marketing Officer, expressed his excitement about Georgia's strong tourism economy and credited it to the leadership of Governor Kemp and other key players in the industry. He also highlighted that this year's conference drew 400 attendees from across the state and served to inspire excellence and elevate Georgia's tourism efforts.

Jaronski also shared some impressive statistics about Georgia's tourism industry. He stated that thanks to the collective efforts of the entire industry, Georgia is seeing record visitation, a double-digit increase in visitor spending, and a total economic impact equivalent to hosting the largest sporting event in history - the 2026 FIFA World Cup - 160 times in one year.

The "meetings and conventions segment" of travel that includes events like those held at GWCC complex has also contributed significantly to Georgia's tourism industry. In 2023 alone, 16.4 million business-related travelers drove $4.3 billion in spending - an increase of nearly 10 million business-related travelers and more than $1 billion in spending compared to 2022.

For more information about Georgia's thriving tourism industry, interested individuals can visit ExploreGeorgia.org. Additionally, images from the conference and an infographic of tourism numbers can be found on their website as well.

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