DeKalb tourism grows
By Kelly Townsend
The Times-Journal
Published May 16, 2007
DeKalb County had a 15-percent increase in tourists who spent more than $60 million in the county last year.
DeKalb County Tourism Director Patty Tucker said many factors led to the increase.
“A new hotel in Rainsville, the reopening of cabin rentals in DeSoto State Park and the addition of cabin rentals throughout the Mentone area added to our inventory of properties to rent,” Tucker said. “New and existing industry maintains a stable weekday business for hotels. Annual events continue to draw thousands to our region, and the increased number of rooms helped us to accommodate more people.”
Some of the events included Antique Alley and the World’s Longest Yard Sales, summer camps in Mentone, a Civil War re-enactment at Sequoyah Caverns, UFO Days in Fyffe, and other events increased tourism in DeKalb County, Tucker said.
“We are fortunate to have more than 100 events annually, encouraging our visitors to spend one or more nights or even extend their stay, eating in restaurants and enjoying retail shopping,” Tucker said.
The report also shows direct and indirect travel-related employment increased from 939 jobs in 2005 to 1,014 last year. This represents an 8-percent increase and puts DeKalb at the top state list of counties with the largest total employment growth in 2006.
“DeKalb County is unique in what it has to offer and consistently serves up a good time,” Tucker said.
Tucker said 2007 has is off to a great start with a big increase in the first quarter over the same time last year.
Tucker said looking at lodging taxes, the first quarter was up $7,000 over last year.
“I see nothing but good things to come for a county that is so deserving of all good things,” Tucker said.
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