alabama tourism conference

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2022 Alabama Governor's Conference at The Hotel at Auburn University

Date: August 27th - August 30th, 2022

This conference provides tourism professionals a chance to gather and learn about the economic impact of the industry on the Alabama economy, learn new strategies for marketing local Alabama attractions and amenities to visitors, raise money for scholarships through silent auctions, and to celebrate achievements.

Click here to register!

Auburn-Opelika Tourism

714 East Glenn Ave Auburn , AL 36830 USA

phone: 334.501.3281 [email protected] --> site: http://www.aotourism.com

Auburn-Opelika Tourism © 2018. All Rights Reserved.

Alabama Tourism Department

The official site for industry professionals.

Welcome to the Alabama Tourism Department website, the industry professional’s source for the latest news and resources surrounding Alabama travel.

2023 Economic Impact Report

Our tourism partners, legislative grants, tourism news, freedom monument sculpture park now open.

March 24, 2024

Bryan Stevenson likes to say we are all more than the worst thing we’ve ever done. He reminds juries of that when defending his clients against death sentences. Perhaps that same grace should extend to nations. Stevenson is quick to add, however, an action’s full damage must be understood before attempts at moving on are […]

Montgomery earns spot on The New York Times list of top 52 travel destinations for 2024

January 3, 2024

At the start of every year, The New York Times publishes a list of its top 52 travel destinations, offering new, interesting inspiration to its readers. This year, Montgomery snagged a top spot. At No. 28 on the list, The New York Times highlighted Montgomery for its historic roles as the former capital of the […]

Student Groups Will Love This!

November 30, 2023

Space Camp for the beach? Gulf Shores launches Gulf Camp for environmental education, ecotourism From the article by Dennis Pillion on AL.com Gulf Shores has spent decades building its reputation as a premiere vacation destination. Now, the city on Alabama’s Gulf Coast is looking to become a leader in environmental education and programming that will bring […]

Office of the Governor of Alabama

The Office of Alabama Governor Kay Ivey

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Governor Ivey Announces Alabama Tourism Growth of $1.2 Billion

Provided by the Office of the Governor of Alabama | governor.alabama.gov

© 2024 Office of the Governor of Alabama

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The 2024  Alabama-Mississippi-Tennessee Rural Tourism Conference will be held in Obion County, Tennessee in the beautiful Reelfoot Lake Region in the northwest corner of the state. From eagles to white squirrels and sunken cypress trees to dinosaurs, attendees will find a destination filled with unique experiences and attractions just waiting to be discovered.

Because of Reelfoot Lake, a 15,000 biodiverse ecosystem created by a series of earthquakes in 1811 and 1812, the area has long been a mecca for hunters, birdwatchers and outdoor sports enthusiasts. Recent developments have built upon decades of successful tourism and are creating a fascinating hospitality product in a rural region of the country. Our meeting venue, Discovery Park of America, is a 100,000-square-foot museum sitting on a beautifully landscaped 50-acre heritage park with a collection, exhibits and experiences designed to inspire children and adults to see beyond. Included in the conference will be opportunities to try to the restaurants and delicacies of the area, stay in one of the brand new hotels and discover ideas applicable to your own rural community that you can take home and apply.

Recognizing that tourism is a vital part of a community’s economic development, the Alabama-Mississippi-Tennessee Rural Tourism Conference is a collaborative effort focused on assisting smaller communities in bolstering tourism. Incredible networking opportunities and dynamic speakers are key components of the conference. The speakers present innovative ideas and relevant information that attendees always find useful in facing the unique challenges of promoting rural tourism with limited budgets. This annual conference is hosted alternately among Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee, however, anyone associated with or interested in the rural tourism industry is invited to attend.

Helpful Links:

Discover Obion County, Tennessee

Union City Main Street

Reelfoot Lake State Park

Visit Reelfoot Lake – Reelfoot Lake Tourism Council

Discovery Park of America

Northwest Tennessee Tourism

TN Vacation

• Anniston/Gadsden

Alabama’s Black Belt tourism booming due to hunting and fishing, according to report

• Published: May. 18, 2024, 7:07 p.m.

Hunting and fishing accounts for $1.7 billion in annual economic impact in the 23-county Black Belt. (Courtesy of Alabama Black Belt Adventurers Association) Alabama Black Belt Adventures Association

• John Sharp | [email protected]

Alabama’s Black Belt region that encompasses 23 counties through the central and southern portions of the state has long been maligned by tales of poverty, environmental hazards, limited economic opportunities and health care.

But the vast rural region is also home to a growing appeal as a hunting and fishing getaway, and it’s historic and cultural attractions are bringing in tourists, according to a new report released Saturday by the Alabama Black Belt Adventures Association (ALBBAA) , a nonprofit organization committed to promoting outdoor recreation and tourism opportunities within the region.

The report, titled “The Economic Impact of Tourism in Alabama’s Black Belt Region,” shows the region generating an annual economic impact of $3.8 billion in 2023 and accounting for 45,500 jobs. The 2023 growth rate is 9% over the 2022 estimate.

The most impactful attraction in the region is from hunting and fishing, which attributes $1.7 billion or 45% of the overall economic impact on tourism within the Black Belt.

The report was produced by Keivan Deravi of Montgomery-based Economics Research Services Inc.

“Tourism is a key factor in Alabama’s growing economy,” Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey said in a statement. “Having grown up in the heart of the Black Belt in Wilcox County, I understand this region has so much to offer -- from outdoor recreation like hunting and fishing to world changing cultural events, talented artisans and crafters and historic sites. I’m excited to see the growth of the tourism industry in the Black Belt.”

The Black Belt’s tourism growth follows a similar path as the entire state, which saw continued increases in tourism expenditures to $23.5 billion in 2023, up from $22.4 billion in 2022. The state saw 28.8 million visitors, according to an annual report released by the Alabama Tourism Department, up from 28.6 million in 2022.

Deravi’s report shows that all 23 Black Belt counties have experienced tourism growth since the onset of the pandemic in 2020.

“Those of us who live in the Black Belt have long recognized the bountiful recreational and cultural activities available here, and it’s clear people from all over the country and all over the globe have now noticed,” said Greenville Mayor Dexter McLendon, a member of the ALBBAA board of directors. “I know I’ve seen people visiting Greenville from so many different places that it’s hard to remember them all, and this report shows the immense economic benefits that tourism is having for our entire region.”

The Black Belt includes the following 23 counties: Barbour, Bullock, Butler, Choctaw, Clarke, Conecuh, Crenshaw, Dallas, Greene, Hale, Lee, Lowndes, Macon, Marengo, Monroe, Montgomery, Perry, Pickens, Pike, Russell, Sumter, Tuscaloosa and Wilcox.

Montgomery County, with the largest city within the Black Belt region, had the largest economic impact for the year at $1.2 billion, accounting for 32% of the tourism activity within the region. Tuscaloosa County’s impact is at $999.6 million, followed by Lee County at $800.6 million.

ALBBAAEconomic Impact Report FINAL (002) by John Sharp on Scribd

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University of Alabama Athletics

Big 12 Championships

Alabama Rowing Set for Big 12 Conference Championship

5/18/2024 11:21:00 AM | Rowing

The Crimson Tide will compete in the conference championship in Sarasota, Fla.

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The No. 19 Alabama rowing program is set to travel to Sarasota, Florida, to compete in the Big 12 Conference Championship over the weekend at Nathan Benderson Park, with competition set to begin Sunday at 9 a.m. EST.

The Tide enters the weekend as one of three Big 12 conference schools represented in the latest rendition of the Pocock/CRCA Poll, joining top-ranked Texas and fellow conference-affiliate, No. 5 Tennessee.

Alabama's Third Varsity Four crew will take to the water at 9 a.m. EST in an exhibition race to kick off the conference championship. Official races will begin at 9:15 a.m. with the Third Varsity Eights.

The team with the highest combined score among the three automatic qualifier races - 1V8+, 2V8+ and 1V4+ - will receive the Conference's automatic qualifying spot at the 2024 NCAA Championship. Scoring for the Big 12 title will include all five official races.

Saturday, May 18

• 9 a.m. – 3V4+ (Exhibition)
• 9:15 a.m. – 3V8+
• 9:30 a.m. – 2V4+
• 9:45 a.m. – 1V4+
• 10 a.m. – 2V8+
• 10:15 a.m. – 1V8+

Awards Ceremony

*All times Eastern

For the latest information on the team, follow @AlabamaRow on X and Instagram and Alabama Rowing on Facebook. General athletic news can also be found at UA_Athletics on X and Instagram and AlabamaAthletics on Facebook.

Sunday, May 19, 2024

Photo credit: ONA

Oman hosts un tourism meeting and “investing in tourism” conference, oman is gearing up to host the 50th meeting of the regional committee for the middle east of the united nations tourism organization. .

TAS News Service

[email protected], saturday, may 18, 2024.

Muscat : His Highness Sayyid Taimur bin Asaad Al Said, Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Central Bank of Oman, will grace the opening of the meeting, underscoring the nation’s commitment to fostering tourism development.

The accompanying conference, “Investing in Tourism: Opportunities and Challenges of Sustainable Finance,” prioritizes the theme of sustainable finance in tourism. This platform aims to delve into crucial discussions surrounding financing tourism projects in ways that promote sustainable economic and social growth.

The event will delve into challenges and explore innovative solutions, emphasizing the need for collaboration between the public and private sectors to achieve sustainable development goals within the tourism sector.

• Sohar Port and Freezone inks pact with RoSPA for occupational safety training
• Training courses approved to streamline government services in Oman
• Oman’s NDC begins parallel programme on ‘Climate Change and Net Zero’
• Muscat Stock Exchange drops 10 points
• MEM announces public auction of mining blocks for Omani construction companies

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Solar eclipse today: Oman time from 2:50 pm, dos and don’ts

Eid holidays announced in UAE

Eid Al Fitr holidays announced in Oman

Oman cancels mandatory PCR test requirements for fully vaccinated travellers

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Oman to host regional conference of UN Tourism on May 22

Muscat: UN Tourism (UNTWO) will conduct the 50th edition of the regional conference, including a high-level ministerial meeting, at Al Bustan Palace Hotel between May 22 and 25.

The conference will include key data, insights, and discussions about trends and opportunities for the sector in the region.

In 2023, the Middle East was leading the recovery, being the only region to surpass the pre-pandemic levels with arrivals 122 percent above 2019 levels, reaching 87.1 million international tourists.

With the strong forecast growth in global tourism to 2030, significant investment will be required to provide the accommodation, transport, and other tourism-related services and infrastructure necessary to meet expected demand, while enhancing economic, social, and environmental outcomes.

According to UN Tourism, this will require an integrated approach across many sectors (e.g. transport, environment, agriculture, innovation, education, tourism) and levels of government (national, regional, local), with input and support from industry. Investment will also be critical in managing this growing tourist flow sustainably.

Between 2018-2023, the countries in the region were the destination of 254 announced greenfield projects in the tourism cluster, with a total investment of $15.2 billion, creating around 33,629 new jobs

In addition, the region serves as a vibrant hub for inward and outward tourism investments, with investors strategically investing in the sector in other parts of the world.

As the global tourism landscape evolves, the region plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of the sector through its vision, investment initiatives, and strategic partnerships.

In this sense, between 2018-2023, Middle East countries have announced 109 greenfield FDI projects abroad in the cluster of tourism, with a total investment of $6.8 billion.

UN Tourism Middle East member states are Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syrian Arab Republic, UAE and Yemen.

Moreover, non-traditional investments are receiving increased attention as innovation and entrepreneurship are becoming ever more important enablers to support an inclusive economic recovery and building resilience.

In that context, venture capital funding in travel and tourism reached more than USD 341 million 4 between 2018-2023 in the region. Investment and financing are an essential part of this. The possibilities are wide-ranging and include public and private investment in low-carbon transport options and the construction of resource-efficient tourism infrastructure, as well as initiatives to support innovation, promote the adoption of responsible business practices, and encourage the integration of tourism businesses into low-carbon and sustainable tourism supply chains.

Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here

Alabama Travel Council

• ATC Jobline

Alabama Governor’s Conference on Tourism, July 17-30, 2024, Tuscaloosa’s Hotel Capstone and Bryant Conference Center

Alabama Governor’s Conference on Tourism, July 17-30, 2024, Tuscaloosa’s Hotel Capstone and Bryant Conference Center This conference provides tourism professionals a chance to gather and learn about the economic impact of the industry on the Alabama economy, learn new strategies for marketing local Alabama attractions and amenities to visitors, raise […]

Men’s Basketball Receives Conference Matchups From SEC

5/13/2024 | Men's Basketball

🥎 DI softball regionals

DII softball finals

⛳️ DI women's golf finals

DII men's lax semis

🥍 DI men's lax quarters

NCAA.com | May 14, 2024

• 2024 ACC baseball tournament: Bracket, schedule, scores

Here's a look at the 2024 ACC baseball tournament, which starts with pool play on Tuesday, May 21 and lasts through the championship game on Sunday, May 26.

2024 ACC baseball tournament bracket

TBA (as of May 14)

2024 ACC baseball tournament schedule, scores

All times ET

Tuesday, May 21 — Pool Play

• TBD vs. TBD | 11 a.m. | ACC Network
• TBD vs. TBD | 3 p.m. | ACC Network
• TBD vs. TBD | 7 p.m. | ACC Network

Wednesday, May 22 — Pool Play

Thursday, May 23 — Pool Play

Friday, May 24 — Pool Play

Saturday, May 25 — Semifinals

• Semifinal No. 1 | 1 p.m. | ACC Network
• Semifinal No. 2 | 1 p.m. | ACC Network

Sunday, May 26 — Championship

• Semifinal winners | 12 p.m. | ESPN2

ACC baseball tournament history

Here are all the winners of the annual ACC baseball tournament. Clemson won the title in 2023, beating Miami (Fla.) 11-5 in the final.

2024 NCAA DII baseball championship: Bracket, schedule, scores

2024 NCAA DIII baseball championship: Selections, bracket, schedule

• 2024 college baseball conference tournaments: Schedules, brackets, auto-bids
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Everything you need to know about how the Men's College World Series works

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