While some businesses are suffering, one segment that has achieved growth recently is the local tourism industry, based on a report to the city board of commissioners.
“Our numbers are way up from last year,” tourism official Jessica Icenhour told the board Thursday night.
Both visitation figures and revenues from an occupancy tax levied at city lodging establishments bear that out, according to Icenhour. She is director of tourism and marketing with the Greater Mount Airy Chamber of Commerce and also plays a key role with the Surry County Tourism Partnership.
Figures logged so far this year show that occupancy-tax collections are 6.76 percent higher than for the corresponding period in 2009, Icenhour, who reports periodically to city officials, said Thursday night.
That represents a significant improvement from the outlook in January, when tax revenues were reported to be down about 3 percent based on tourism traffic in 2009.
Icenhour told the city board that one factor in the rebound is a new Holiday Inn Express in the U.S. 601 area, which held its grand opening during the winter. The presence of that establishment apparently has been an enticement for more out-of-towners to stay the night.
Meanwhile, visitation figures themselves have shown a hefty increase of late. In June, a key month for tourism, 7,059 visitors to Mount Airy were recorded, with Icenhour explaining that this represents those actually greeted by staff members of the city visitors center.
The 7,059 visitors last month not only exceeded the 6,717 who were recorded in June 2009, but also is the highest total for any June over the past four years. Visitation for the year totaled 26,405 through June.
Another factor, Icenhour said, involves the fact that the visitor center staff has staggered its schedule to allow the center’s hours to be extended to 6 p.m., an extra hour than before. This was done to accommodate travelers who arrive after 5 p.m. and might need help with a place to stay.
“We’re going to do that for the busy tourist season,” Icenhour told the city commissioners.
Recent marketing efforts, which are funded through occupancy-tax revenues, appear to be reaching a wide-ranging audience, the tourism official added.
In June, visitors to Mount Airy were noted from all 50 states and a number of foreign countries, including Saudi Arabia, Icenhour said.
Board Member
Appointed
In a related matter Thursday night, the city commissioners appointed a new member to the Mount Airy Tourism Development Authority (TDA) to replace one who recently left the group.
Sandy Hallman will fill an unexpired term of Rich Kunkel which ends on Jan. 15, 2012. Kunkel resigned from the TDA on May 25 to devote more time to his business.
The TDA is required to have representatives with experience in the promotion of travel and tourism, in addition to other membership categories including chamber involvement.
Contact Tom Joyce at tjoyce@mtairynews.com or at 719-1924.
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