Columbus Tourism Proves To Be A Major Economic Impact On Fountain City
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Tourism is having a major economic impact on the City of Columbus. Investments such as the Hotel Indigo seen being constructed in 2020 are helping to drive tourist to Columbus. (file photo)
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The data shows that tourism in Columbus is big business and that visitor spending makes a significant contribution to the local economy. The spending by visitors to the Columbus area found this offers a significant positive impact on jobs, payroll and tax savings for residents.
According to the research hospitality jobs in Columbus total 4,491 and provide an estimated payroll of over $151 million annually. This economic impact generates roughly $26 million in lodging sales tax in Columbus alone. Those generated funds provide public services for citizens in Columbus on a daily basis and the study shows that without the impact of tourism revenue residents in Columbus would have to pay around an additional $639 in taxes annually to maintain the same level of services they currently enjoy.
"Thanks to Dr. (Benjamin) Blair and the staff at CSU's Butler Center for Business and Economic Research, their annual impact analysis allows VisitColumbusGA to not only track specific travel and tourism numbers, but to report on the impact tourism has on Columbus," stated Peter Bowden, President/CEO of VisitColumbusGA. "These are new dollars to the community, advancing the quality of life in the community."
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The Columbus Riverfront and its attractions have placed Columbus on an international stage for tourism. |
Visitors to Columbus come to the city for various reasons including, business, conferences, conventions, meetings, touring local attractions, or for visiting family and friends. The communities close tie to Fort Moore also drive a number of tourist to the city.
The Columbus community is on track to continue seeing growth in the tourism field as both public and private investment continues to transform the city. Columbus has recently seen the addition of several new hotels including the the new AC Marriott Hotel and Hotel Indigo in downtown. The new City Mills Boutique Hotel located just north of Downtown in the City Village area. As well as a new Holiday Inn Express that recently opened on Warm Springs Road near Columbus State University.
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Festivals such as the Tri-City Latino Festival bring visitors from around the region and other destinations annually. |
Columbus continued investment in convention space and sports venues including the Golden Park transformation currently underway will only further drive more dollars into the city. The Whitewater project on the Chattahoochee has spun millions of dollars into local businesses annually and has put the city on the international stage for competitions.
The growth of tourism in Columbus seems to be on track for the city to continue to reap benefits from in the future.