Tourism Spending Continues to Grow in Walker County

A newly released Travel Economic Impact study, prepared by Tourism Economics, shows visitor spending continued to grow in Walker County last year.

The report found visitors spent $43.6 million on lodging, food and beverage, recreation, retail, and transportation in 2023 resulting in a growth rate of 1.6%. The growth was mainly attributed to gains in the food and beverage and recreation sectors.

Travel demand in 2023 supported 384 jobs in Walker County generating $3 million in state and local tax revenue. The Georgia Department of Economic Development estimates tourism revenue replaced $116 in taxes for every household in Walker County last year.

“Georgia’s diverse destinations, unique experiences, and welcoming communities attract visitation and visitor spending into every corner of our state,” said Georgia Department of Economic Development Statewide Tourism Director Jay Markwalter. “Together, we continue to drive increasing levels of tourism impact, powering our state and local economies, supporting jobs and businesses, and enhancing the quality of life for all Georgians.”

In 2023, Georgia broke visitation records for the second year in a row, reaching a new high of 171 million domestic and international visitors. These travelers spent a record $43.6 billion on hotels, restaurants, transportation, and other local businesses across the state and generated $5 billion in state and local tax revenues. The total economic impact for Georgia travel and tourism reached $79.7 billion and supported more than 463,400 jobs statewide.