Dahlonega & Lumpkin Co. Georgia: The 2009 Economic Significance of Tourism to the County

1. Dahlonega & Lumpkin Co. Georgia: The 2009 Economic Significance of Tourism to the County by the Southeast Tourism Society Dr. Steve Morse, Economist Tourism Institute, University of Tennessee, Ph: (865) 850-9319; E-mail: smorse@utk.edu

2. Presentation Agenda

3. Study prepared for the Dahlonega - Lumpkin County Chamber of Commerce & Convention and Visitors Bureau by the Southeast Tourism Society Dr. Steve Morse, Economist Tourism Institute, University of Tennessee, Ph: (865) 850-9319; E-mail: smorse@utk.edu

4. Dahlonega - Lumpkin County, Georgia: The 2009 Economic Significance of Tourism to the County How Tourism Generates Jobs, Payroll, and State & Local Taxes for Dahlonega - Lumpkin Co. Source: Study prepared for the GA Dept. of Economic Development, Tourism Division by the U.S. Travel Association. “2009 Travel Economic Impact on Georgia State, Counties, and Regions.” additional analysis by Dr. Steve Morse, University of Tennessee

5. In Dahlonega & Lumpkin County … Tourism generates jobs, worker payroll and State & local taxes

6. Dahlonega – Lumpkin Co. has a wide variety of tourist activities

7. Presentation Agenda

8. What are the impacts of tourism on the Dahlonega - Lumpkin County economy, 2009? ? Source: Study prepared for the GA Dept. of Economic Development, Tourism Division by the U.S. Travel Association. “2009 Travel Economic Impact on Georgia State, Counties, and Regions.” & Dr. Steve Morse, University of Tennessee

9. Yearly Impacts of Tourism on the Dahlonega - Lumpkin County economy, 2009 Tourists spent $27.78 million Source: Study prepared for the GA Dept. of Economic Development, Tourism Division by the U.S. Travel Association. “2009 Travel Economic Impact on Georgia State, Counties, and Regions.” & Dr. Steve Morse, University of Tennessee

10. Yearly Impacts of Tourism on the Dahlonega - Lumpkin County economy, 2009 Tourism created 290 jobs Source: Study prepared for the GA Dept. of Economic Development, Tourism Division by the U.S. Travel Association. “2009 Travel Economic Impact on Georgia State, Counties, and Regions.” & Dr. Steve Morse, University of Tennessee

11. Yearly Impacts of Tourism on the Dahlonega - Lumpkin County economy, 2009 Tourism generated $5.82 million in worker paychecks Source: Study prepared for the GA Dept. of Economic Development, Tourism Division by the U.S. Travel Association. “2009 Travel Economic Impact on Georgia State, Counties, and Regions.” & Dr. Steve Morse, University of Tennessee

12. Yearly Impacts of Tourism on the Dahlonega - Lumpkin County economy, 2009 Tourism generated $1.06 million in Georgia State taxes Source: Study prepared for the GA Dept. of Economic Development, Tourism Division by the U.S. Travel Association. “2009 Travel Economic Impact on Georgia State, Counties, and Regions.” & Dr. Steve Morse, University of Tennessee

13. Yearly Impacts of Tourism on the Dahlonega - Lumpkin County economy, 2009 Tourism generated $850,000 in local Lumpkin Co. taxes Source: Study prepared for the GA Dept. of Economic Development, Tourism Division by the U.S. Travel Association. “2009 Travel Economic Impact on Georgia State, Counties, and Regions.” & Dr. Steve Morse, University of Tennessee

14. Presentation Agenda

15. Dahlonega - Lumpkin Co. & GA Tourism during the 2009 recession The 2009 recession had a downward impact on most all Georgia economic sectors, including the tourism sector • When Dahlonega – Lumpkin Co. tourist spending is compared to overall statewide Georgia tourist spending from 2009 from 2008, Dahlonega – Lumpkin Co. tourist spending decreased by 8.2%, and statewide Georgia tourism decreased by 7.6%. • Thus, tourist spending in both Dahlonega – Lumpkin Co. and Georgia had a relatively similar downward impact during the 2009 recession Source: Study prepared for the GA Dept. of Economic Development, Tourism Division by the U.S. Travel Association. “2009 Travel Economic Impact on Georgia State, Counties, and Regions.” & Dr. Steve Morse, University of Tennessee

16. Presentation Agenda

17. On an average day in Dahlonega - Lumpkin Co., how much do tourists generate in … • Daily State Tax Revenues? • Daily Local Tax Revenues? • Daily Worker Income & Payroll? Source: Study prepared for the GA Dept. of Economic Development, Tourism Division by the U.S. Travel Association. “2009 Travel Economic Impact on Georgia State, Counties, and Regions.” & Dr. Steve Morse, University of Tennessee

18. Source: Study prepared for the GA Dept. of Economic Development, Tourism Division by the U.S. Travel Association. “2009 Travel Economic Impact on Georgia State, Counties, and Regions.” & Dr. Steve Morse, University of Tennessee

19. Source: Study prepared for the GA Dept. of Economic Development, Tourism Division by the U.S. Travel Association. “2009 Travel Economic Impact on Georgia State, Counties, and Regions.” & Dr. Steve Morse, University of Tennessee

20. Source: Study prepared for the GA Dept. of Economic Development, Tourism Division by the U.S. Travel Association. “2009 Travel Economic Impact on Georgia State, Counties, and Regions.” & Dr. Steve Morse, University of Tennessee

21. Source: Study prepared for the GA Dept. of Economic Development, Tourism Division by the U.S. Travel Association. “2009 Travel Economic Impact on Georgia State, Counties, and Regions.” & Dr. Steve Morse, University of Tennessee

22. Presentation Agenda

23. Tourism Tax Relief for Dahlonega - Lumpkin Co. • Each of the 11,632 households in Dahlonega - Lumpkin Co. pay $164 less in State and local taxesas a result of taxes generated by tourist spending Source: Study prepared for the GA Dept. of Economic Development, Tourism Division by the U.S. Travel Association. “2009 Travel Economic Impact on Georgia State, Counties, and Regions.” U.S. Census Bureau; & Dr. Steve Morse, University of Tennessee

24. In other words, if it were not for State & local taxes generated by tourism … Each Dahlonega - Lumpkin Co. Household would pay $164 more in taxes Source: Study prepared for the GA Dept. of Economic Development, Tourism Division by the U.S. Travel Association. “2009 Travel Economic Impact on Georgia State, Counties, and Regions.” U.S. Census Bureau; & Dr. Steve Morse, University of Tennessee

25. In summary:Tourism works for Dahlonega - Lumpkin Co. in 2009 $27.78 million 290 jobs $5.82 million $1.06 million $850,000 Source: Study prepared for the GA Dept. of Economic Development, Tourism Division by the U.S. Travel Association. “2009 Travel Economic Impact on Georgia State, Counties, and Regions.” & Dr. Steve Morse, University of Tennessee

26. Thank You! Tourism Works for Dahlonega & Lumpkin Co., GA Source: Study prepared for the GA Dept. of Economic Development, Tourism Division by the U.S. Travel Association. “2009 Travel Economic Impact on Georgia State, Counties, and Regions.” additional analysis by Dr. Steve Morse, University of Tennessee, Ph: (865) 850-9319; Email: smorse@utk.edu

27. About the research and presentation

28. About the Report’s AuthorDr. Steve MorseDirector & Economist, Tourism Institute, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN Steve Morse, Ph.D., is an economist and director of the Tourism Institute at the University of Tennessee, in Knoxville, TN. Dr. Morse tracks and analyzes tourism spending patterns and impacts of tourism on area economies. He is an associate professor teaching Hotel & Airline Revenue Management, Price Theory & Hotel Operations, and Tourism Economic Analysis. He earned his B.S. from the University of Georgia, and the Ph.D. from the University of Tennessee. Steve Morse, Ph.D. Director & Economist. Tourism Institute, University of Tennessee Knoxville, TN; Ph: (865) 974-6249; Email: smorse@utk.edu