Madison County Measures Tourism Impact

The Anderson/Madison County Visitors Bureau is touting the industry's economic impact. Executive Director Tom Bannon says a recent study by Pennsylvania-based Rockport Analytics suggests visitors spent $142 million in 2013. March 20, 2015

Excerpt From a March Blog Post From Anderson/Madison County Visitors Bureau Executive Director Tom Bannon

“…The Inspire Award was launched in 2014. A partnership of the Bureau and WQME, the Herald Bulletin, Ricker's, and We Are Madison County, the Inspire recognizes excellence in customer service throughout Madison County. The award will be presented to four winners each May and November.

The results of these efforts were staggering. Percentage of hotel occupancy rose three percent, the average daily rate charged at local hotels was up, and the Bureau's web site had an incredible 2.3 million page views (up over 600,000 from the great number registered in 2013). Add it all together and the Visitors Bureau had a record breaking year with over $560,000 in innkeeper's tax receipts collected.

Let me do a quick explanation on what I mean by innkeeper's tax receipts collected. The Visitors Bureau was created by a state law. The statute states that there is a 5 percent tax charged on all hotel, campsite, and bed and breakfast stays and those tax receipts then go to the Bureau to help further promote tourism.

According to an economic impact study by Rockport Analytics in Pennsylvania, that $560,000 was invested wisely as $142 million in visitor spending took place in Madison County in 2013. Think about that for a moment. Hotel, campsite, and bed and breakfast guests – made up largely of people from outside the area – paid a 5 percent tax that amounted to $560,000, which was then turned into $142 million in visitor spending that stayed in our local economy.”

Source: The Anderson/Madison County Visitors Bureau