ATLANTA CONVENTIONS & VISITORS BUREAU OPPOSES IMMIGRATION BILL

In a rare statement, the Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau went on record Friday morning against Georgia’s stringent new immigration enforcement legislation over concerns that it could hurt the region’s $10 billion tourism industry. The vote was unanimous in the bureau’s executive committee passing a resolution against HB87 as “unwelcoming” and could “tarnish Atlanta’s reputation as one of America’s most welcoming cities.”
“The loss of potential revenues associated with conventions and tourism would have an adverse effect on Atlanta’s economy and the businesses and employees directly and indirectly associated with Atlanta’s hospitality industry,” the resolution says.
The Arizona tourism got hit pretty badly after the anti-immigration legislation passed there, and Atlanta stands to lose much more because a larger portion of its income is derived by tourism.