Rural Georgia 3. Where do tourists spend their Rural Georgia - PDF document

The Top 3 Reasons Why Tourism has an Important Role in Economic Development in Rural Georgia Dr. Steve Morse, Western Carolina University The Top 3 Reasons Why Presentation Agenda – 3 Topics Tourism has an Important Role Tourist spending generates in Economic Development in 1. jobs, paychecks & local taxes Rural Georgia Tourists are temporary 2. Steve Morse, Ph.D. taxpayers Economist & Director Hospitality & Tourism Mgt College of Business Western Carolina University Tourism’s new role in rural 3. Cullowhee, NC Economic Development Northeast GA Mtns: Presentation Agenda – 3 Topics Tourist Spent $990 Million, Created Tourist spending generates Tourism 9,300 jobs 1. jobs, paychecks & local taxes creates jobs in 2. Rural Georgia 3. Where do tourists spend their Rural Georgia travel dollars in Georgia (2015)? Example: Percent Dollars Economic Sector of of Total Spent Tourist Spending Spending ($ Billion) White County, GA Transportation 33.9% $9.3 (Helen, GA) Food, Restaurants, Bars 30.3% $8.3 Lodging 18.7% $5.1 General Retail Trade 10.2% $2.8 Entertainment & Recreation 6.9% $1.9 TOTAL 100% $27.4 Source: Report prepared for the GA Dept. of Economic Development, Tourism Division, by the US Travel Association titled “The 2015 Travel Economic Impact on Georgia state, Counties and Regions.” Dr. Steve Morse, Economist & Director Hospitality & Tourism Program, College of Business Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC Ph: (865) 850-9319; E-mail: smorse33@gmail.com 1

The Top 3 Reasons Why Tourism has an Important Role in Economic Development in Rural Georgia Dr. Steve Morse, Western Carolina University Tourism’s Economic Impact in Tourism Jobs in White Co., GA in 2015 White Co. in 2015 Tourist Spending $63.4 million 580 Jobs Direct Jobs Direct Jobs Created 580 jobs 290 jobs Worker Paychecks Indirect Jobs $13.5 million State Taxes $2.5 million Total Jobs from 870 Jobs Local County Taxes Tourism Spending $1.8 million Source: Report prepared for the GA Dept. of Economic Development, Tourism Division, by the US Source: Report prepared for the GA Dept. of Economic Development, Tourism Division, by the US Travel Association titled “The 2015 Travel Economic Impact on Georgia state, Counties and Regions.” Travel Association titled “The 2015 Travel Economic Impact on Georgia state, Counties and Regions.” and Dr. Steve Morse Tourism jobs are like an Iceberg Tip of the Iceberg: Front-line jobs in restaurants, hotels, transportation White Co. GA tourism jobs Under the Surface: will NEVER Professional Business Support Jobs in be outsourced to another Advertising, Finance, country Legal, Management Tourism & Hospital Jobs White Co. tourists are Presentation Agenda – 3 Topics temporary tax payers 1. Tourists are temporary 2. taxpayers 3. Dr. Steve Morse, Economist & Director Hospitality & Tourism Program, College of Business Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC Ph: (865) 850-9319; E-mail: smorse33@gmail.com 2

The Top 3 Reasons Why Tourism has an Important Role in Economic Development in Rural Georgia Dr. Steve Morse, Western Carolina University Tourism Tax Relief for White Co. tourist White Co. Households spending generated • Each of the 16,023 households in $4.4 million White Co. pay $344 less in State and local taxes as a result of taxes in combined state and generated by tourist spending local taxes in 2015 $$344 in Tourism Tax Relief for In other words, Each Household in if it were not for state & local White County taxes generated by tourism … Aug. 9, 2017 Each of the 16,023 White Co. Households would pay White County 344. 00 $344 more in taxes to replace the taxes paid by tourists Does tourism have a Presentation Agenda – 3 Topics role in helping 1. create quality 2. jobs in rural Tourism’s new role in rural 3. Georgia? Economic Development Dr. Steve Morse, Economist & Director Hospitality & Tourism Program, College of Business Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC Ph: (865) 850-9319; E-mail: smorse33@gmail.com 3

The Top 3 Reasons Why Tourism has an Important Role in Economic Development in Rural Georgia Dr. Steve Morse, Western Carolina University Tomorrow’s High Quality Workforce: Georgia’s “Creative Class” Georgia’s next creative of workers class of innovators & entrepreneurs Who are the new creative class of workers?  Technology Professionals  Arts & Culture Experts  Managerial & Analytical  Education & Training Some future workers will be able to Professionals work from nearly ….. Anywhere Future workers will Towns & communities like Helen, have a choice of Bainbridge, Columbus, Americus, locations to work Reidsville, or Dahlonega from Downtown urban areas like Atlanta Dr. Steve Morse, Economist & Director Hospitality & Tourism Program, College of Business Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC Ph: (865) 850-9319; E-mail: smorse33@gmail.com 4

The Top 3 Reasons Why Tourism has an Important Role in Economic Development in Rural Georgia Dr. Steve Morse, Western Carolina University March 2006: Corp Execs: What are the top 5 Kia Motors in West Point, GA factors to consider locating a facility? 1) Access to transp & resources 2) Trainable workforce 3) Quality of life for employees 4) Available workforce 5) Healthcare costs Source: Survey of Corp Execs, Area Development Magazine, 2013 Measures of “Quality of Life” attracting next generation of innovators & entrepreneurs Last Next Generation’s Generation’s Quality of Life Quality of Life Low Home Prices Diverse Cultures + Plus Good Schools Reliable Broadband Local Sense of Low Tax Rates + Plus Community Open Space & Low Crime Rate Greenways + Plus Available Health Natural Resources Care & Transp Tourism is often a In Rural Georgia … potential business o wner’s First Date with a community Tomorrow’s Today’s Visitor Business could be …. Investor Dr. Steve Morse, Economist & Director Hospitality & Tourism Program, College of Business Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC Ph: (865) 850-9319; E-mail: smorse33@gmail.com 5

The Top 3 Reasons Why Tourism has an Important Role in Economic Development in Rural Georgia Dr. Steve Morse, Western Carolina University Why is tourism so important Pu Purpose se of a in attracting entrepreneurs & First t Date?? economic development? To determine if it’s Because you never have a second chance to make a worthwhile for an first impression! investment in a second date “A Good Place to Start a Business” Tourism’s Halo Effect Per ercen ent Imag age Lift Advertising 194% First + Visitation Visitation Impressions 96% only Last Advertising 79% only 0% 50% 100% 150% 200% 250% Source: Longwoods International The next generation of creative class TN NC workers and entrepreneurs are attracted to locations that offer: (the same characteristics that make a great tourism destination) SC History & GA Music Arts Heritage A brief story Nature & Agri- Shopping about Outdoors tourism Macon Co., NC Sports & Food Attractions Recreation 35 Dr. Steve Morse, Economist & Director Hospitality & Tourism Program, College of Business Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC Ph: (865) 850-9319; E-mail: smorse33@gmail.com 6

The Top 3 Reasons Why Tourism has an Important Role in Economic Development in Rural Georgia Dr. Steve Morse, Western Carolina University Macon County’s old economic development focus …. Macon County, NC 130 miles North of Atlanta Drake Tax Software Corp. HQ App Trail passes through Franklin & Highlands, NC Available buildings for manufacturing Available workforce & quality of life! Professional Jobs: • Software Engineers • Computer Science Engineers • Accountants & CPA’s • Web software developers • Digital programmers & analysts Main Message - Perfect Fit: In closing… If your tourism organization does not Tourism and Economic Development have a place at your For Rural Georgia local economic development table … Then you’re probably on the Tourism Econ Dev menu! Dr. Steve Morse, Economist & Director Hospitality & Tourism Program, College of Business Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC Ph: (865) 850-9319; E-mail: smorse33@gmail.com 7

The Top 3 Reasons Why Tourism has an Important Role in Economic Development in Rural Georgia Dr. Steve Morse, Western Carolina University Thank You for Inviting me! Summary – 3 Takeaways Steve Morse, Ph.D. Tourist spending generates 1. Economist, Western Carolina University jobs, paychecks & local taxes Ph: (865) 850-9319 Email: smorse33@gmail.com Tourists are temporary 2. taxpayers Tourism’s new role in 3. Economic Development Dr. Steve Morse, Economist & Director Hospitality & Tourism Program, College of Business Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC Ph: (865) 850-9319; E-mail: smorse33@gmail.com 8