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Even though New Orleans still hasn't seen pre-Katrina levels of tourists, the city seems to be on track for another banner year.
While the amount of tourists coming to the city increased 2% over 2011, which was the best year since Katrina, the amount they spent while they were here is up a whopping 11% when compared to the same time period last year.
"Visitors spent a total of $3.45 billion, so this is showing some really positive momentum for the city's economy," says Mark Romig, President and CEO of the New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corp. That's in part because of what he calls the city's very healthy rate for hotel rooms and more things for people do while they're here.
"And of course that translates into more tax dollars for city services," Romig says. "And jobs."
Romig says the travel industry has added 4,000 new jobs in the city over the past year. "We have a goal of creating 33,000 additional jobs by 2018. This is a jobs program and it's a very focused effort to do so responsibly and to make sure that we spread the visitation across the city."
While the amount of tourists coming to the city increased 2% over 2011, which was the best year since Katrina, the amount they spent while they were here is up a whopping 11% when compared to the same time period last year.
"Visitors spent a total of $3.45 billion, so this is showing some really positive momentum for the city's economy," says Mark Romig, President and CEO of the New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corp. That's in part because of what he calls the city's very healthy rate for hotel rooms and more things for people do while they're here.
"And of course that translates into more tax dollars for city services," Romig says. "And jobs."
Romig says the travel industry has added 4,000 new jobs in the city over the past year. "We have a goal of creating 33,000 additional jobs by 2018. This is a jobs program and it's a very focused effort to do so responsibly and to make sure that we spread the visitation across the city."
