Local, state tourism thrives

A troubled national economy may be causing problems for some industries, but Alabama tourism - especially in the Shoals - is not among them.

Alabama's tourism and travel industry produced more than $9.3 billion in 2007, a 10 percent increase over 2006 revenues.

The economic impact report released by Gov. Bob Riley's office showed that about 22.4 million people visited the state in 2007. They paid more than $685 million in state and local lodging taxes, according to an Alabama Tourism Department survey.

Colbert County was among the counties reporting double-digit growth in 2007, compared to 2006 lodging revenues. The state report shows Colbert posted a 10 percent increase.

Lauderdale County, despite a series of increases above the 20 percent level, including 45 percent in 2006, logged an additional 2 percent increase in 2007.

Nine of the 16 north Alabama counties making up the Alabama Mountain Lakes region demonstrated double-digit growth in lodging tax and expenditures, said Dana Lee Jennings, president of the Mountain Lakes Tourist Association.

She attributed the increases to sports and fishing tournaments and weekday business generated by the corporate travel market.

Lodging tax revenues in Colbert County exceeded $300,000 in 2007, up from $293,813 in 2006.

In Lauderdale, more than $622,000 in lodging taxes were collected, which is about $11,000 more than 2006 figures.

Franklin County reported $65,000 in lodging tax collection, a 5 percent increase from the previous year, tourism officials said.

Colbert County's tourism director, Susann Hamlin, said sports and fishing tournaments represented a big portion of the increase.

"Our growth was due to good business at some of our larger properties," Hamlin said. "We had some really good events during the summer that we don't always have. Plus, our hotels were able to do well at holding their rates and not having to discount them. Those things really make a difference."

Hamlin said the additional revenue means more money to put into marketing and promotion of the area.

"We're pleased when our revenues just remain level," she said. "It's difficult to show an increase from year to year, but with increases come more opportunities to promote what we have to offer."

Florence/Lauderdale Assistant Tourism Director Alison Stanfield said 2007 was a stabilizing year for the county.

"We're always pleased to have any increase," she said. "With the national economy in dire straits, we're fortunate to even hold our own. Tourism isn't a necessity; it's a luxury."

Lisa Singleton-Rickman can be reached at 740-5735 or lisa.singleton-rickman@timesdaily.com.