The latest data comes from

the Georgia Department of Industry, Trade, & Tourism through a report

from Smith Travel Research TIA, which tracks actual dollars spent in each

Georgia county.

Tourism is Georgia's second

largest industry and it is definitely a force to be reckoned with in Coweta

County as well.�Looking at the overall economic impact of tourism on Coweta,

the data shows some 1,300 people employed in tourism related jobs with

a payroll of $24,930,000.

How does tourism help out local

economy?�Besides the creation of jobs, there is tax revenue generated

and during the 2002-2003 timeframe studied in the latest report, Coweta

County took in $2.53 million in tourism related tax revenue.

It took a lot of folks visiting

Coweta County last year to place us as high in the state rankings as we

were.�The Welcome Center was quite busy in 2003 with over 26,000 people

taking the time to stop by the Walt Sanders Memorial Drive facility.

Coweta County tourism helped

Georgia as well by generating $3.62 million dollars for the state's

treasury.�

And the enormous impact tourism

has on Georgia is made even clearer when you consider that 42 million

people visited our state during the 2002 fiscal year, creating $1.1 billion

in total revenue for local and state government. Over 207,000 jobs in

Georgia are the result of tourism with a total payroll of 5.8 billion

dollars.

Overnight guest expenditures

totalled $108.81. Day guest expenditures totalled $51.92.�

With the average tourist spending

3.2 nights, expenditures add up as lodging is paid for, vehicles are gassed

up, meals are bought, and other supplies are purchased.�

Tourism in Coweta County continues

to grow and as it does, so does the beneficial economic impact it provides

for the Coweta community.

�