The Taste of Thomasville Food Tour was one of 10 Georgia programs to receive a Georgia Trend Magazine Travelblazers award at the recent Georgia Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus (GACVB) Annual Conference held in Albany. The award was created to recognize destination development programs and projects that involve multi-partner collaboration within communities.
The Thomasville Visitors Center nominated the Taste of Thomasville Food Tour for the award for being a driver of tourism and an economic development partner. According to Bonnie Hayes, Director of Tourism for the City of Thomasville, the food tour attracts visitors to the area which in turn initiates day trips and overnight stays.
“The food tour not only attracts visitors to Thomasville to sample some of the great local flavor found in our restaurants, it showcases what makes our community distinctive while keeping Thomasville’s history alive,” noted Hayes. “We’ve known for years that people come to town simply to experience the food tour, staying overnight while shopping and dining locally, and this has a direct impact on our local economy.”
Based on recent data from Explore Georgia, the tourism division of the Georgia Department of Economic Development, Georgia travel and tourism generated a total economic impact of $64.5 billion and supported more than 422,600 jobs. Recent Thomas County tourism numbers include:
- $76.8 million in total visitor spending
- 845 jobs directly supported by tourism
- $6.2 million in state and local taxes generated by visitors, which equals an approximate $347 in tax savings per household
Local city-sponsored events such as First Friday Sip and Shops, Rose Show and Festival, and Victorian Christmas help drive tourism to Thomasville, and visitor experiences like the Taste of Thomasville Food Tour offer year-round activities that delight visitors.
“We’re always looking for new and unique ways to entice visitors to make Thomasville their travel destination,” said Hayes. “The Taste of Thomasville Food Tour is a win for our community, promoting what our local restaurants have to offer and creating a fun and memorable experience at the same time.”
Tour owner Debra Smith opened Taste of Thomasville in 2013. The food tour recently celebrated its 10,000th guest and now offers tours year-round to everyone from school groups to wedding parties.
For more information about the food tour, visit TasteOfThomasvilleFoodTour.com. For more information about the Thomasville Visitors Center, visit Thomasvillega.com or call 229-228-7977.