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HomeNewsMontgomery County Tourism Revenue Increased in 2009

Montgomery County Tourism Revenue Increased in 2009

Clarksville Montgomery County Convention and Visitors BureauClarksville, TN – Montgomery County tourism and travel generated revenue of over 166 million dollars in 2009 according to the recently published Tennessee Travel Impact Report.

Last year’s expenditures marked an increase of over two million dollars since 2008. The county is also in a unique position as it is one of six counties, out of 95, in the state of Tennessee that can post an increase in proceeds. The other counties saw a backslide or no change in their financials. Montgomery County is also ranked eleventh in the state for total expenditures.

“These numbers prove that every time we have a tournament, group tour or convention in town, it is helping the citizens of Clarksville-Montgomery County by creating jobs and tax revenue,” said Clarksville-Montgomery County Convention and Visitors Bureau Director, Theresa Harrington.

Even during a lean economic time in the state, Montgomery County was able to post positive numbers much in part to the addition of new hotels, retail establishments and athletic tournaments. There has also been a steady increase in payroll dollars and tax receipts, at both state and local levels, which has attributed to the increase in revenue for Montgomery County.

The report is calculated by assessing the breakdown of sales tax dollars within the county from travel related expenses such as lodging, shopping and dining. Because of the revenue that Montgomery County receives from travel and tourism, the local property tax is able to stay at a lower level. If not for the tourism money that is brought into the county, property owners would be paying an average of 259 more dollars a year in property tax.

Within Montgomery County, over 1,500 jobs and 30 million dollars worth of payroll were directly impacted by tourism spending in 2009. That marks an increase of over five percent in payroll and four percent in jobs.

Clarksville-Montgomery County Convention and Visitors Bureau Chairman, Jay Patel stated, “The report shows on paper what we in the lodging, retail and restaurant sectors already know; that tourism dollars are a major part of Montgomery County’s healthy economic standing. Each time an event is hosted here, every dollar that is spent has a portion put back into this community and that is why it is crucial that we make Clarksville-Montgomery County an appealing location to bring events.”

Total travel and tourism within the state of Tennessee did see an overall drop last year by over seven percent and a decrease in state-wide tourism payroll dollars by five percent.

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