• Explore Georgia Awards Tourism Project Grants for 2021
    Events,  Georgia

    Explore Georgia Awards Tourism Project Grants for 2021

    Explore Georgia, Georgia Department of Economic Development’s (GDEcD) tourism division, announced today that it has awarded more than $75,000 in tourism product development grants to 13 new and expanding projects across the state. The Community Funding Program allows communities to expand, enhance and improve their appeal as a destination for tourists and leverage tourism as a driver of economic impact.   “While Georgia’s tourism industry has felt the painful effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, by providing funding for these 13 projects the tourism product development grants will support the safe recovery of the industry throughout the entire state,” said Georgia Department of Economic Development Commissioner Pat Wilson. “I want to thank…

  • Georgia Tourism Industry Breaks Visitation Records
    Georgia,  Places To Visit

    Georgia Tourism Industry Breaks Visitation Records

    Explore Georgia, the state tourism office within the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD), joined Governor Kemp and industry professionals from across the state today to recognize a record-breaking year in tourism at the annual Tourism, Hospitality and Arts Day at the Georgia State Capitol. The annual event highlights the importance of the tourism, hospitality, and arts industries in the state. Georgia welcomed 111.7 million international and domestic visitors in 2018, who collectively spent $36.9 billion in communities throughout the state and directly supported 478,000 jobs. Without the jobs created by the tourism industry, Georgia’s unemployment rate would be 10%, nearly twice as high as the record-low average. Governor Kemp was presented…