Tourism brings big bucks to Sumter County

Local News

October 21, 2009

Beth Alston The Times-Recorder Wed Oct 21, 2009, 09:31 PM EDT

AMERICUS — AMERICUS — Tourists spent almost $34 million ($33.76) in Sumter County during 2008 (up 5.7 percent from 2007). That enthusiastically met number was given by Melanie Grace, executive director, Americus-Sumter County Tourism Council, at its monthly meeting Wednesday.

Grace, presiding over the meeting in the absence of Chairman Chad Ledger, also had more good news: 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).

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.

In other information from Grace, she 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 to development of the tourism industry in Sumter County.

Grace’s activity report revealed a long list of media inquiries as well as mention in the media. She pointed out stories on Margaret’s Cottage in Andersonville and the Plains Peanut Festival in the September issue of Americus Scene magazine in addition to a story in the Oct. 15 edition of the Atlanta Journal Constitution, “Americus’ grand past, rich present,” among others.

Grace also shared an interesting communication from Jeff Meyers about the Southeastern Electric Flight Festival which is held each spring at Hodges Hobbies in rural Sumter County. In an email, Meyers said he surveyed participants and found that the average participant in the event 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.

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Tourism brings big bucks to Sumter County

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