Visitors spent an estimated $2.2 billion in Jefferson County in 2021, a 45% increase over the previous year’s spending total, according to a study commissioned by the Greater Birmingham Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB).

The numbers show that the local tourism industry is making a healthy return, said CVB and county officials.

“It is encouraging to see travel regaining strength after the crushing blow it took in 2020 when the pandemic shut down entire segments of the industry,” said J. John Oros Jr., CVB president and CEO. “It was a dark period for so many who depend on tourism for their livelihoods. This rebound is great news not only for employment but also for what travel and tourism contribute to the economy of the county.”

Jefferson County Commissioner Joe Knight, vice chair of the CVB, said the study is “absolutely good news. People are tired of being pent up; they are tired of staying home and not going anywhere. … Leisure travel is up. It’s exciting. We have a lot to offer here.”

Those offerings range from events at Protective Stadium and Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex in downtown Birmingham to the Finley Center in Hoover, as well as dining and countless other amenities in the state’s most populous county, officials said.

The Birmingham CrossPlex is among the venues for The World Games 2022 in July and has played a role in drawing more people to Birmingham in recent years. (contributed)

Oros said the estimated $2.2 billion in tourist spending includes hotel revenue from across the county, ground transportation, money spent in restaurants and retail, concerts, recreation and sporting events at Protective Stadium, Legacy Arena, the Birmingham CrossPlex and the Hoover Metropolitan Complex.

“The CVB has a travel media director on staff who regularly host journalists from around the world. They come to cover everything from our civil rights history and outdoor activities to real Southern fare and the Southern spin our top chefs put on their signature dishes,” Oros said. “That’s why tourism is such an important part of our local economy.”

Steve Ammons, chair of the Jefferson County Commission’s Economic Development Committee, agreed, saying tourism and economic development go hand in hand.

“If tourism helps bring (business leaders) here, we can show them what our (area) is like, they see it from a different light than our past,” Ammons said. That leads to more companies locating in the area, “and we can grow our city and our county with higher-quality jobs.”

The study also found an increase in tourist-generated taxes, with total taxes for the state reported at $253 million. Local government received more than $90 million in taxes produced by tourism in Jefferson County.

The greater Birmingham area was host to more than 3.6 million overnight visitors in 2021, according to the study. The area’s visitor count grew from a 33% decline in 2020 to a 26% increase in 2021.

Birmingham’s dynamic food scene, including James Beard Awards nominee Automatic Seafood & Oysters, is a major factor in tourism. (Dennis Washington / Alabama NewsCenter)

Knight credited the CVB for working through the pandemic. “A lot of these (national) convention boards laid off their people” during the pandemic, Knight said. “We didn’t. We cut back on hours and salaries, but the CVB worked through the pandemic so when it did break, they would be on it … and I think the results are showing. Even though a lot of people weren’t traveling and going places and visiting, now they are, and we are ahead of the curve.”

Oros said 2020 was an anomaly with the pandemic, but the Birmingham metro area is “welcoming back travelers in numbers that are becoming comparable to pre-pandemic times. Events are back on the in-person schedule, and that’s good news. Just look at the two-day sellout at the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama.”

Spending patterns

Tourist spending patterns continued to follow those of past years with transportation topping the list. Dining expenditures came in second, followed by lodging, recreation and retail.

“It’s not surprising that dining is one of the strongest spending categories,” Oros said.  “We heavily market award-winning cuisine and chef-owned restaurants in the greater Birmingham area. Dining experiences remain a list-topper for reasons people travel.”

Officials predict the tourist spending numbers from this year could be among the best ever. “From a tourism perspective, it certainly helps that you have brand-new Protective Stadium and renovated Legacy Arena,” Ammons said. “… We’re going to have Garth Brooks as the opening concert (June 4) at Protective Stadium, and you have great concerts and athletic events going on at Legacy Arena; those are two small parts of it.

The opening of Protective Stadium last year is set to boost tourism in Birmingham, including its big part in The World Games this summer. (Solomon Crenshaw Jr. / Alabama NewsCenter)

“You have other amenities besides the food … the different sporting events in different parts of the county,” he said. The Word Games 2022 “is willing to be here for a reason. And after that, the (2025) World Police and Fire Games was willing to be here for a reason. The more we have tourism options, the more people are willing to come here.”

Oros said, “As we look toward The World Games this summer, we are optimistic that it will impact climbing visitor numbers. As long as the economy and consumer confidence remain stable, we expect to emerge from the COVID slump with a strong travel industry intact and growing.”

TWG 2022, which will draw elite athletes from more than 100 countries around the globe, will take place July 7-17 at various venues across the Birmingham metro area, including Protective Stadium, Legion Field, the Birmingham CrossPlex and the Hoover Met. The Games are expected to have an estimated $256 million in economic impact.

The World Police and Fire Games, which will take place June 27-July 6, 2025, will feature more than 10,000 first responders competing in 1,600 medal events at more than 35 venues across the city and are expected to have an economic impact of $75 million on the Birmingham region.

This story originally was published by The Birmingham Times.