From USA TODAY Network and wire reports
Alabama
Montgomery: Tourist spending in the state dropped 20% last year at the height of pandemic lockdowns and business closings, but Alabama fared better than most during the coronavirus crisis, state tourism officials said. A statement from the Alabama Tourism Department said a travel consulting firm found a nationwide decline of 42% in travel expenditures, but the state’s decrease wasn’t as bad because spending was robust in Baldwin County, where the beach towns of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach are located. State beaches, historically Alabama’s top tourist draw, were shut down early in the pandemic but reopened as the summer travel season was beginning. “Baldwin County’s success is all the more remarkable when you factor in that the beaches were closed for six weeks in the spring and one week due to a hurricane in the fall,” said Judy Ryals, chair of the board that oversees the agency. Visitors spent more than $13 billion on ac
Alabama tourism weathered pandemic better than most states
by The Associated Press
Last Updated Apr 24, 2021 at 11:14 am EDT
MONTGOMERY, Ala. Tourist spending in Alabama dropped 20% last year at the height of pandemic lockdowns and business closings, but the state fared better than most during the coronavirus crisis, state tourism officials said.
A statement from the Alabama Tourism Department said a travel consulting firm found a nationwide decline of 42% in travel expenditures, but Alabama’s decrease wasn’t as bad because spending was robust in Baldwin County, where the beach towns of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach are located.
State beaches, which are historically Alabama’s top tourist draw, were shut down early in the pandemic but reopened as the summer travel season was beginning.
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