Economic Impact of Tourism for 2011 Announced

The Georgia Department of Economic Development announces the economic impact of tourism in Rabun County for the year 2011.

The data prepared by the U.S. Travel Association of Washington D.C. showed that tourism dollars increased by 6% in 2011, which Rabun County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau executive director Pete Cleaveland said is great news.

“It shows that our business has come back from the Great Recession,” said Cleaveland tourism now up above what it was before in our peak year, so we had a record year in 2011 at over $44 million.”

That number reflects an average of over $120,000  in daily tourist spending.

Cleaveland said that Rabun County matches up well against the surrounding counties.

“White County with Helen is the leader in our area, but we’re right up there,” said Cleaveland. “We compete well with the other counties in our area, Habersham, Towns, and Stephens, which of course are the adjacent counties.”

Cleaveland said he expects the 2012 numbers to be similar to that of 2011.