During the recent 2022 Georgia Governor's Tourism Conference in Athens, Governor Brian P. Kemp applauded Georgia's tourism industry for attracting pre-pandemic levels of domestic visitors after the recent release of the state's 2021 travel data compiled by Explore Georgia, the tourism division of the Georgia Department of Economic Development.

"I am proud to announce that Georgia maintained our No. 5 market share rank for domestic overnight visitation in 2021, a critically important achievement for our state's economy and a testament to the competitiveness of our state's tourism industry," said Governor Kemp. "Because Georgia led the nation in a measured reopening, the leisure sector of our tourism economy continues to lead in rebounding, and our travel industry is well-positioned for future growth and success. I want to recognize our state tourism office for working with my administration to use relief funds I directed its way and generate the highest return on investment from tourism marketing in our state's recent history."

In 2021, Georgia travel and tourism generated a total economic impact of $64.5 billion and supported more than 422,600 jobs. Dougherty County's numbers included:

• $263.9 million in total visitor spending

• 3,772 jobs directly supported by tourism

• $21.3 million in state and local taxes generated by visitors, which equals an approximate $622 in tax savings per household.

"Coming out of the pandemic, we couldn’t predict how comfortable visitors would feel about traveling," says Rashelle Minix, Executive Director of the Albany Convention and Visitors Bureau “Albany has the major attractions visitors are looking for with less congestion, offering families a safe, enjoyable family experience. These attractions paired with our bike trails, kayaking and other outdoor experiences contributed to an 8% increase in recreational spending."