(Image source from: High Line Network)
An amalgam of new international aviation's, leading conventions with a global clientele and a growing film sector has driven up international visitor arrivals in Atlanta by 5 percent to 1.25 million in 2017.
That's still a lowercase proportion for a city that serves as a hub for regional tourism and ample international trade shows, hosting more than 53 million visitors in the whole and boasting the world’s busiest airport.
According to the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau, the longer-term affirmative trends contradict the modest annual growth, international arrivals are up 20 percent since 2012 and abroad is where new growth will come from in both absolute numbers and in revenue, as foreign travelers are known to splurge more than their domestic counterparts on airfare and retail in the United States.
"International visitation is our greatest incremental growth opportunity as we close the decade," said William Pate, president, and Chief Executive Officer, Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau, in a news release. "Even as our domestic tourism business expands, we must continue our efforts to attract visitors to Atlanta from around the world."
According to ACVB, Canada, Europe, and Asia still represent the top regions or origin for inbound travelers, accounting for 29, 25 and 21 percent, respectively. The countries showing the most consistent growth, however, all lie in Asia, and they happen to correspond well with Georgia’s top international student populations. That makes sense at a glance, given that families often do tourism when visiting their children. China, India and South Korea have all seen their tourist traffic to Atlanta increasing by at least 60 percent since five years ago.
As routes play a key role, Delta Air Lines and Korean Air both run nonstop flights to the South Korean capital Seoul. Delta is starting a China flight in July (Atlanta-Shanghai) and plans to open a new route to Mumbai, India, succeeding year, though Atlanta's hometown airline hasn't said for certain whether that will be from here or another gateway.
In 2016, Flights from Turkish Airlines to Istanbul and Qatar Airways to Doha also came on line, offering new opportunities for travelers to reach Atlanta.
By Sowmya Sangam
