State tourism officials say lodging revenue in Colbert and Lauderdale counties in 2012 was $1.1 million - up by about $30,000 from 2011.
The TimesDaily of Florence reported Sunday (http://bit.ly/16v0eBO ) that state tourism officials said the increase in lodging revenue was part of a nearly $303 million impact tourists had on the shoals area of northern Alabama last year.
The total includes money spent on hotels, restaurants, entertainment, retail shopping, admissions to attractions and tourist events.
Officials say more than 3,080 people in the area work in industries that support tourism. Those industries include lodging, entertainment, public transportation, automotive transportation, restaurants and retail.
Assistant Director for Florence-Lauderdale Tourism, Alison Stanfield, says the numbers are a good indicator of the general strength of the local economy.
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Information from: TimesDaily, http://www.timesdaily.com/