Tourism makes Record Breaking Impact in 2016

Matt Boster

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Posted by: Matt Boster
Date: May 11 2017 6:28 PM

Tourists spent a record breaking $286.2 million in Dothan and Houston County in 2016, according to the annual Economic Impact Report for 2016* , conducted by the State of Alabama Department of Tourism. This is an increase of 8.5% over 2015, an all time high for the area, and ahead of the state average of 5.4%.

This total is calculated from the amount of revenue generated through lodging, transportation, restaurants, and shopping. In addition to the rapid growth fiscally, the area also saw a total of 3,959 jobs directly related to tourism, which is 195 new jobs created since 2015. “This increase is good news for everyone in the Dothan area,” said Robert Hillman, Director of Sales for the Dothan Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.

“Not only are we able to provide sustainable economic impact for our city, but it’s growing more than ever, and employing more people than ever before.” Tourism also provided $16.39 million in tax relief for Houston County, averaging a tax savings of $629 per household. “Tourism makes an impact in every home in the area that most don’t even realize,” Hillman continues. “Providing this sort of tax relief from non-citizens allows the citizens of Dothan to reap the benefits.”

On a larger level, the State of Alabama likewise had an increase of 5.4% in tourist spending for a total of $13.3 billion in 2016. It is estimated that more than 25.8 million people visited the State of Alabama. The most visited counties in the state were Baldwin, Jefferson, Madison, Mobile, and Montgomery. Houston County ranked as the 9th county in the state in tourist spending, employment, and lodging tax collections.

For more information regarding this report, please contact Robert Hillman, Director of Sales at the Dothan Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, at (334) 794-6622 or [email protected].

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