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Ivey projects tourism to generate $24 billion in revenue by year’s end

The impact of the state’s tourism industry has more than doubled in size over the past decade.

Governor Kay Ivey gave remarks to the Alabama Governor's Conference on Tourism at the The Hotel at Auburn University and Dixon Conference Center Tuesday August 30, 2022 in Auburn, Ala. Governor's Office/Hal Yeager

Alabama’s tourism industry is booming, Gov. Kay Ivey told industry professionals gathered at the annual Governor’s Conference on Tourism in Auburn Tuesday.

Ivey announced that the the industry is on pace to bring in $24 billion in revenue by the end of the year, more than double the $11 billion the industry generated in 2013.

“These are the kind of results that are taking Alabama flying at full speed ahead,” Ivey said.

The Covid-19 pandemic dampened tourism across the country, but Ivey highlighted that Alabama bore that brunt better than many states.

“While the national industry lost 42 percent of its revenue, Alabama ranked in the top five states for the least amount of revenue lost,” Ivey said. “Our tourists spent a record almost $20 billion dollars. Alabama was the fourth most searched state, according to the U.S. Travel Association.”

Lee Sentell, director of the Alabama Department of Tourism, said the industry bounced back from people discovering the state parks, beaches and outdoor recreation the state has to offer.

According to the 2021 Alabama Tourism Economic Impact Report, 28.2 million visitors spent $19.7 billion in the state, while the state lodging tax brought in $72.6 million in revenue for the state.

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Jacob Holmes is a reporter at the Alabama Political Reporter. You can reach him at [email protected]

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