The Georgia Association of Convention & Visitors Bureaus joined Governor Kemp and tourism industry professionals from across the state on Wednesday, March 5 to recognize the significant impact and importance of Georgia’s tourism industry. After a five-year hiatus, the 2025 Tourism Day at the Capitol put a spotlight on the thriving industry under the gold dome.

Governor Kemp was presented with a check by the Georgia Association of Convention & Visitors Bureaus and industry representatives representing the $5 billion in state and local tax revenue generated by tourism-related expenditures in 2024.

"Tourism plays a vital role in Georgia’s economy, providing thousands of jobs, boosting local businesses, and contributing billions in revenue,” Amanda Dyson Thornton, Executive Director, Georgia Association of Convention & Visitors Bureaus. “It’s not just about visitors; it’s about sustaining communities and fostering growth across the state."

The tourism industry reaches far and wide across the state with more than 400,000 tourism and hospitality related jobs in Georgia, representing a five percent growth year over year.  With more than $40 billion in visitor spending annually, an eight percent growth from 2022 to 2023, Georgia now ranks fifth in the United States for most visited states for domestic travel.

Presented by the Georgia Association of Convention & Visitors Bureaus, event sponsors included Georgia’s Blue Ridge Fannin County Chamber & CVB, Visit Savannah, Pick Ellijay, Cartersville Bartow County Tourism, and the Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau.