Our Opinion — Thanks to local effort, tourism remain

The Americus Times-Recorder

October 22, 2009 09:23 pm

— When Melanie Grace, executive director, Americus-Sumter County Tourism Council, revealed some tourism figures at Wednesday’s monthly meeting, everyone was astonished. The numbers are great news for our local area.
The numbers reveal that tourists spent almost $34 million ($33.76) in Sumter County during 2008 (up 5.7 percent from 2007). The payroll of the approximately 390 tourism-related employees in Sumter County was $7.64 million for 2008 (up 3.12 percent). State tax revenue from tourism in Sumter was $1.27 for 2008 (up 4.56 percent) and local tax from tourism was $1.01 million (up 5.39 percent).
In other information, Grace reported hotel-motel tax for Sumter County at $188,320 in 2009, $246,397 in 2008, $261,337 in 2007, and $183,655 in 2006. All those taxes go to development of the tourism industry in Sumter County. These taxes stay local.
The events that come to Americus and Sumter County bring in big tourism bucks. In fact, the Southeastern Electric Flight Festival which is held each spring at Hodges Hobbies in rural Sumter County, brought several hundred participants who spent $380 at Americus businesses; $90,000 in local hotels/motels; about $65,000 at stores in Americus (65 percent of which was at Wal-Mart); $35,000 at local restaurants, and some $20,000 at local gas stations.
Don’t forget other events such as the two-day Andersonville Historic Fair in October, the Plains Peanut Festival in September and the Lindbergh event which has just been relaunched. All these events, and more, bring visitors to our area, visitors with dollars in their pockets that they spend locally to boost our local economy.
Michael Dixon, Tourism Council member, commented, “I am quite impressed with these figures. This didn’t just happen. It is the result of a job well done. My congratulations to Melanie (Grace),” which was met with applause.
We could not agree more. Grace does a fantastic job representing Americus and Sumter County and all the good things we have going here. She’s forward thinking and exudes enthusiasm, and that’s what it takes. Her years of experience have helped her to be plugged into a network of influential people who get things done. Thanks, Melanie Grace; we appreciate you.