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PAGE 6A PICKENS COUNTY PROGRESS THURSDAY. MAY 13. 2021
Georgia tourism industry bouncing back from pandemic heading into summer
By Dave Williams
Bureau Chief
Capitol Beat News Service
ATLANTA - When the coron-
avirus pandemic struck Georgia in
March of last year, no industry
shut down harder or faster than
hospitality.
The leisure and hospitality sec
tor lost 223,000 jobs statewide be
tween February and April 2020.
In Atlanta, hotel occupancy
plummeted from 74% in February
of last year to just 9% in April.
“We’re a convention city,” said
William Pate, president and CEO
of the Atlanta Convention & Visi
tors Bureau. “All of a sudden, the
conventions canceled.”
“We lost half of March, all of
April and most of May,” added Joe
Marinelli, president of Visit Savan
nah, that city’s tourism promotion
agency. “Losing those months was
hard on us.”
But as the second Memorial
Day of the COVID-19 era ap
proaches, and with it the start of
the summer vacation season, the
signs point to a tourism recovery.
“We’re picking back up,” said
Mark Jaronski, the deputy com
missioner at the Georgia Depart
ment of Economic Development in
charge of the agency’s tourism di
vision. “The vaccine rollout has
had the most positive effect on our
visitation.”
Even during its worst days, the
pandemic didn’t damage Georgia’s
tourism industry as much as it hurt
other states.
Jaronski credited the compara
tively soft impact to Gov. Brian
Kemp’s decision not to completely
shut down the Georgia’s economy
when he issued a shelter in place
order in April 2020.
“Because we remained open,
we were able to do better than the
national average and many states,”
he said.
While conventions, concerts
and sporting events were shut
down, Georgians began venturing
out to the North Georgia moun
tains and the state’s beaches within
weeks of Kemp’s order.
“People wanted to stay away
from crowds and large group gath
erings,” Jaronski said. “They were
told by health experts and opinion
leaders to stay away from groups,
but maybe it’s OK to go to the
beaches or mountains.”
There have even been some
success stories during the pan
demic. As the isolation afforded by
camping sent sales of recreational
vehicles soaring, visitation to state
parks went up.
During fiscal year 2020, which
ran through the end of June of last
year, visits to state parks grew to
11.8 million, an increase of
562,000 over the previous year.
Camping occupancy improved
from 13% to 46%.
“Last year was quite a busy
year,” said Kim Hatcher, spokes
woman for the Georgia Depart
ment of Natural Resources’ Parks,
Recreation & Historic Sites Divi
sion. “Occupancy is definitely up,
mostly for camping.”
With the continuing popularity
of the beaches and mountains, the
state’s leisure and hospitality in
dustry had gained back 144,000 of
the 223,000 jobs lost to the pan
demic by March of this year, 65%
of the total, according to the Geor
gia Department of Labor.
Even more convention-depen-
dent cities have begun to bounce
back from the pandemic.
Marinelli said weekend visits
by leisure travelers began heading
back up by mid-June of last year
and are going strong heading into
the summer.
“Leisure travel is a big winner
right now,” he said. “With Savan
nah being a leisure destination,
we’re fortunate.”
Pate said Atlanta is forecasting
a similar increase in leisure travel
this summer.
To help complete the recovery,
the state has launched a new mar
keting campaign aimed at the pent-
up demand for travel on the part of
pandemic-weary Americans.
The campaign conjures up the
image of a sprinter coiled at the
starting line. Instead of “Ready.
Set. Go,” the slogan is “Ready. Set.
Georgia.”
Jaronski said the new campaign
targets the growing number of
Americans eager to travel longer
distances than last year, either by
driving or flying.
“Last year, we focused almost
exclusively on in-state travelers,”
he said. “Now, we’re expanding
beyond Georgia to bordering states
and places like New York, Chicago
and Miami.”
Along with the yearly update of
the Georgia travel guide, the state
tourism division has at its disposal
$1 million in grant funding ear
marked in Kemp’s mid-year
budget for tourism marketing.
Jaronski said half of that money
will go to tourism promotion agen
cies across Georgia that depend on
hotel-motel tax revenue, a source
of funding severely depleted by the
pandemic.
Pate said the Atlanta Conven
tion & Visitors Bureau’s revenue is
down 65% this year.
“It’s had a significant impact on
the revenues of CVBs across the
state,” he said.
Jaronski said the other half of
the state grant money will go to in
dividual businesses in the hospital
ity industry that have been hurt by
the pandemic, including hotels,
restaurants and tourist attractions.
Tourism projections show
Georgia’s convention business will
be the last to recover.
Pate said Atlanta has a “very
strong” convention calendar
booked for the last half of this year.
Marinelli said many of the con
ventions originally slated for Sa
vannah last year or early this year
have been postponed until late this
year or early in 2022.
“People have to start going
back to their home offices before
[businesses] start sending them out
to travel,” Jaronski said.
Similarly, sporting events are
backloaded into this year’s calen
dar, including two Chick-fil-A
Kickoff games over the Labor Day
weekend at Atlanta’s Mercedes-
Benz Stadium to begin the college
football season and the SEC
Championship game in December.
Cobb County recently lost
Major League Baseball’s All-Star
Game due to be played in July at
Truist Park as part of a protest over
a controversial election overhaul
Kemp signed in March. But Pate
said no other scheduled events
have threatened to pull out.
Pate expects the tourism recov
ery will build on itself. As more
and more people get outside, it will
restore confidence that traveling is
safe again, he said.
“Now that vaccines are pretty
much available, people are out and
about,” he said. “They want a va
cation. They didn’t get one last
year.”
THURSDAY. MAY 13. 2021 PICKENS COUNTY PROGRESS PAGE 7A
Upcoming Library Surplus Sale
The Pickens County Library in Jasper, located at 100 Library Lane, will be selling
some of its surplus items to the public on Saturday, May 22 between 9:30 a.m. and 5:30
p.m. All items will be sold as-is, and only cash payments of exact change will be ac
cepted. All sales are final. Buyers are responsible for the removal and loading of pur
chased items.
Please visit sequoyahregionallibrary.org/surplus for a list and prices of items being
sold.
Model railroaders resume open houses
Tri-State Model Railroaders, located in the Historic Depot, 150 Railroad Ave, Mineral
Bluff, GA, are excited to announce the resumption of their open houses this Saturday,
May 15th from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
COVID 19 protocols: Face Masks are required with controlled admission to allow
social distancing. After being closed for over a year everyone is invited to see the addition
of a second level which completes representation of the L&N Railroad's Hook & Eye
line from Marietta, GAto Etowah, TN circa 1948-1952. In addition to resuming Open
Houses, the Ride the Rails (5 mile Motor Car ride on the real railroad) will resume on
Saturday, July 3rd with a one day event. Another event is being planned for this fall. For
more information email tsmri@yahoo.com or call 423-299-3914.
Join Sons of the American Legion
The Sons of the American Legion (Squadron 149) meet the last Thursday of every
month at 5 p.m. at 111 Airport Business Ct., Jasper, GA 30143.
The City of Jasper
encourages you to
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820 S. Main St. 1305 Old Philadelphia Rd.
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Closed on Friday
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Highway 515 at Highway 108, Jasper, Georgia
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SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
7:30AM Jasper Farmers Market @ A
Lee Newton Park (Opening Day) 1
8AM Yoga @ Rec. Center
1-5PM Old Jail Open downtown
1:30-5:30PM Live Music @ Fainting O
Goat Vineyards
2-4PM GriefShare ministry @ King of
Kings Lutheran Church, 45 Appalachian
Circle, Talking Rock
Snowball Golf Tournament @ Arrow- O
head Country Club \J
6PM City Council meeting @ City Hall
7PM Trivia @ Rocco’s
11:30AM Board of Elections @ A
Elections Office, 83 Pioneer Rd. '
5:30PM Coin Club Group @ Corner
stone Church, 140 Cornerstone Dr.
5:30PM Yoga class @ Rec. Center
(Full Body Flexibility)
7PM Karaoke @ Rocco’s
11:30AM Families Anonymous @ ft
King of Kings Lutheran Church, 45 O
Appalachian Circle
Noon - Rotary Club @ Chatt Tech
7PM Acoustic Music @ Rocco's
10AM Board of Commissioners ft
Work Session @ Admin. Bldg. ^
11:30AM Professional Women of
Pickens County program “Healthy
Planning for your Future” featuring
Asst. Professor Reinhardt's Cauble
School of Nursing@ Admin. Bldg.
5:30PM Yoga mat/chair fusion @ Rec.
Center
7PM Karaoke @ Rocco’s
9AM Choose to Lose Weight Lose f
Group @ Pickens Community Center, I
Room#1
12-5PM The Pregnancy Center Angel Ba
bies Boutique sale (Free jewelry item with
purchase)
7PM Funny Little Thing Called Love @
Tater Patch Theatre
7PM Eric Gales @ Rocco's
7PM Trivia @ Pendley Creek Brewing
Downtown Jasper
7:30AM Jasper Farmers Market @ Q
Lee Newton Park (Opening Day) Q
8AM Yoga @ Rec. Center
10AM Yoga @ The Old Mulehouse
1- 5PM Old Jail Open downtown
2- 5PM Eric Reinhardt @ Leah Chapman
@ Rocco’s
3PM Amelie @ PHS Performing Arts
7PM Funny Little Thing Called Love @
Tater Patch Theatre
7PM Amelie @ PHS Performing Arts
8PM Vintage Vixens @ Rocco’s
1:30-5:30PM Live Music @ Fainting Q
Goat Vineyards
2-4PM GriefShare ministry @ King of
Kings Lutheran Church, 45 Appalachian
Circle, Talking Rock
2PM Funny Little Thing Called Love @
Tater Patch Theatre
12-5PM The Pregnancy Center A Tj
Angel Babies Boutique BOGO sale I VJ
5:30PM Cardio class @ Rec. Cen
ter
6PM Pickens Planning Commission @
Admin Bldg.
7PM Trivia @ Rocco’s
5:30PM Yoga class @ Rec. A A
Center (Slow Flow) ' '
7PM Trivia @ Rocco's
11:30AM Families Anonymous A 0
@ King of Kings Lutheran '
Dhurch, 45 Appalachian Circle
Noon - Rotary Club @ Chatt Tech
7PM Acoustic Music @ Rocco's
Reinhardt University Bluegrass A 0
Festival ' sJ
5:30PM Yoga class @ Rec.
Center (Yoga w/ weights)
7PM Karaoke @ Rocco’s
Deadline for American Legion a a
Scholarship I LX
9AM Choose to Lose Weight Lose
Group @ Community Center
Reinhardt University Bluegrass Festival
12-5PM The Pregnancy Center Angel Ba
bies Boutique sale (Free children’s book
with purchase)
7PM Funny Little Thing Called Love @
Tater Patch Theatre
8PM Thomas Fountain Openers Dixie Tor
nadoes @ Rocco’s
8PM Ghost Tours Old Jail Downtown
7:30AM Jasper Farmers Market @ A ft
Lee Newton Park (Opening Day) 1
8AM Yoga @ Rec. Center
1-5PM Old Jail Open downtown
Reinhardt University Bluegrass Festival
7PM Funny Little Thing Called Love @
Tater Patch Theatre
8PM Ghost Tours @ Old Jail Downtown
Jasper
1:30-5:30PM Live Music @ Faint- A ft
ing Goat Vineyards Iky
2-4PM GriefShare ministry @ King
of Kings Lutheran Church, 45 Appalachian
Circle, Talking Rock
2PM Funny Little Thing Called Love @
Tater Patch Theatre
Pickens Library Closes for Ren- A /
ovations 1 •
5:30PM Cardio class @ Rec. Cen
ter
6:30PM Water Authority Board @ Admin.
Bldg.
7PM Trivia @ Rocco’s
4:30-6:30PM Chamber’s Business A ><
After Hours @ Ivy & Oak, 70 Anti- ' ^
och Church Rd.
5:30PM Coin Club Group @ Cornerstone
Church, 140 Cornerstone Dr.
5:30PM Yoga class @ Rec. Center (War
rior Flow)
7PM Trivia @ Rocco's
11:30AM Families Anonymous A Q
@ King of Kings Lutheran ' ^
Church, 45 Appalachian Circle
Noon - Rotary Club @ Chatt Tech
12-5PM The Pregnancy Center Angel
Babies Boutique sale (Half off formula
sale)
7PM Acoustic Music @ Rocco’s
8:30AM Tax Assessors Board yf)
@ Admin. Bldg.
5:30PM Yoga class @ Rec.
Center (Pilates/Yoga Fusion)
6PM Commissioners Meeting @
Admin. Building
7PM Karaoke @ Rocco’s
9AM Choose to Lose Weight Lose C\ A
Group @ Pickens Community ^ |
Center, Room#1
5:30PM Acoustic Blends @ 75 McCutchen
St., Ellijay. Free admission. Local musi
cians (Proceeds support Harrison Park &
Gilmer Arts)
7PM Funny Little Thing Called Love @
Tater Patch Theatre
7PM Trivia @ Pendley Creek Brewing
Downtown Jasper
7PM PHS Graduation @ Dragon Sta
dium
t :juaM Jasper Farmers Market (cy ^ ^
Lee Newton Park (Opening Day) J J
8AM Yoga @ Rec. Center ^ ^
9:30AM-5PM Pickens Library Sur
plus Sale
11AM Pints & Poses @ Talking Rock
Brewery
11AM-4PM Saturday Social @ Downtown
Jasper (Shopping, Dining, Live DJ, Activi
ties)
1-5PM Old Jail Open downtown
7PM Funny Little Thing Called Love @
Tater Patch Theatre
11:30AM May 23rd QO/OH
Yoga, Mimosas, brunch tO/OU
at Bent Tree Lodge
1:30-5:30PM Live Music @ Fainting Goat
Vineyards
2-4PM GriefShare ministry @ King of
Kings Lutheran Church, 45 Appalachian
Circle, Talking Rock
2PM Funny Little Thing Called Love @
Tater Patch Theatre (May 23)
May 30 8PM Staggr @ Rocco's
12-5PM The Preg- Qyl /Q A
nancy Center Angel O I
Babies Boutique 25%
Off sale
5:30PM Cardio class @ Rec. Center
7PM Trivia @ Rocco’s
5:30PM Yoga class @ Rec. CenterQ
(Hips & Hamstrings) \J
7PM Trivia @ Rocco’s
11:30AM Families Anonymous Oft
@ King of Kings Lutheran
Church, 45 Appalachian Circle
Noon - Rotary Club @ Chatt Tech
12-5PM The Pregnancy Center Angel
3abies Boutique Half Off sale
7PM Acoustic Music @ Rocco's
5PM Sons of the American Le- Q "7
gion @111 Airport Business Ct. ^ /
5:30PM Yoga class @ Rec.
Center (Barre/Yoga Fusion)
7PM Karaoke @ Rocco’s
9AM Choose to Lose Weight LoseQ Q
Group @ Pickens Community Cen-^ 0
ter, Room#1
12-5PM The Pregnancy Center Angel Ba
bies Boutique Half Off sale
7PM Trivia @ Pendley Creek Brewing
Downtown Jasper
7:30AM Jasper Farmers Market @ r\
Lee Newton Park (Opening Day) J M
8AM Yoga @ Rec. Center
1-5PM Old Jail Open downtown
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