The Alliance was founded in 2002 to increase awareness of the tourism industry as a strategic economic development engine within Georgia’s economy. Over the past three years, the Alliance has been successful in reaching its initial goals! Our mission is to increase awareness of tourism and strengthen Georgia’s economy through tourism development and promotion. The Alliance will achieve this mission by:

• Facilitating partnerships between the various stakeholder organizations that benefit from tourist expenditures
• Educating elected officials, their constituents and business leaders to the importance of the economic opportunities created by tourism on a local & statewide basis
• Advocating tourism policy issues at the local, state & federal levels. The Alliance is not a traditional trade association. As an independent voice for Georgia tourism, the Alliance has the ability to partner with key membership organizations within Georgia related to business, government and tourism.

HIGHLIGHTS

• The Tourism Development Alliance of Georgia becomes an affiliate of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce.
• The Hotel/Motel Tax Code was reformed to establish audit and enforcement mechanisms to insure that these tax funds are being used by local governments for appropriate purposes, including tourism promotion.
• Georgia Department of Economic Development received an additional $1.0 million to be used for tourism advertising and promotion in FY-2005 and an additional $1.5 million in FY-2006.