April 30--TIFTON -- Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal signed into law House Bill 318 Monday, legislation that changes the procedures of the Georgia Tourism Development Act. The bill will allow sales tax exemptions for certain approved projects in order to stimulate the creation of tourism attractions or the expansions of existing attractions. Deal signed the bill at the Atlanta Motor Speedway.

"This legislation bolsters one of Georgia's most important industries," said Deal. "With these new incentives, we hope to grow the industry even more by encouraging the construction of new attractions. An existing Georgia business, such as the Atlanta Motor Speedway, also stands to benefit if it chooses to significantly expand or improve its campus. However, this bill is about more than any one location. It is about creating jobs for Georgians and taking another step toward making our state the best place in the nation in which to do business."

The revision of the Tourism Act will allow certain companies that build new attractions to maintain a portion of their sales tax revenues for 10 years. Under the new law, the projects must cost a minimum of $1 million, must attract at least 25 percent of its visitors from out of state by its third year of existence, and must not directly compete with an existing Georgia business.

According to Tyron Spearman, tourism coordinator for the Tifton-Tift County Tourism Association, the new law could impact tourism locally if the county sees private investors bring a new attraction to the county.

"We have state-supported venues such as the Museum of Agriculture and the Agrirama," he said. "We need a destination attraction such as a water park, race track or international ag center; however, Tift County is small and land so expensive that we've been unable to get an attraction and complement or compete with the state attractions we have."

Spearman added the race track in Adel does help to fill up Tifton's hotels.

"I think this legislation will help major investors with major attractions, such as the new indoor stadium for the Falcons...Stone Mountain expansions. You've got to have a million and attract 25 percent from out of state. That's hard to do, especial when Tifton is in the middle of the state."

According to the Georgia Department of Economic Development, the tourism industry employed around 400,000 Georgians in 2011, with 10.3 percent of all jobs in the state either directly or indirectly sustained by tourism activities. Tourism generated more than $49 billion in total economic impact for the state that same year.

To contact editor Angye Morrison, call 382-4321.

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