World Tourism Day: The Economic and Cultural Impact of Tourism
Did you know, one in ten people in the world are employed in the tourism industry? It is one of the most important industry sectors as it provides hundreds of millions of jobs and preserves cultural heritage and natural resources across the globe. As we celebrate World Tourism Day, we wanted to celebrate the great impact of tourism here in Allegany County, the Mountain Side of Maryland.
Economic Impact of Tourism in Allegany County:
Tourism is the third largest industry sector in Allegany County, providing 2,900 jobs and generating $202 million in direct travel spending. What does this look like? Visitors spend $55 million on food and beverage in our local restaurants; $28 million in our downtown retail and boutique shops; $43 million in lodging at hotels, bed and breakfasts, cabins, and resorts; $27 million in recreation and entertainment; and $49 million in transportation.
9. Dans Mountain State Park serves as a seasonal recreational facility that covers 481 acres and offers a wide variety of wildlife, mountain…
* Ranking based on visitor volume.
Income Generation:
The benefits of tourism continue to pay it forward. Every time a visitor spends a dollar in Allegany County, tax income is generated that comes back to Allegany County to fund schools, infrastructure, and community services. In Allegany County, $50 million in direct tax income is generated annually through federal taxes, local and state taxes, and hotel/motel taxes. If tourism would ever go away, it would cost each household of Allegany County, $1,773 annually to make up the lost tax revenue.
Quality of Life:
We like to say that tourism is the ambassador for economic development, and while we invest in tourism development from a visitor standpoint, the investments are for the benefit of the community and its quality of life. It’s the place we go to unwind in the evenings or weekends, the festival we attend with our families, or the natural and scenic landscape we seek out to unplug from the world, recharge our batteries, and explore. Investment in local tourism encourages the preservation of local traditions, arts, and history and promotes a sense of pride and unity within the community. It provides jobs and opportunities for entrepreneurship. And ultimately, it enhances the very fabric of local lifestyle and culture.
