Georgia Southern University drew 163,339 tourists to Bulloch County in 2011, according to a study by the university’s Bureau of Business Research and Economic Development. The study also shows that those visitors had an economic impact of more than $47.4 million.
    “Georgia Southern University’s athletic events, graduation ceremonies, conferences and faculty and student recruiting visits drew tourists that then often shopped in Bulloch County’s stores, ate in its restaurants, and spent the night in its hotels,” bureau researcher Ben McKay said. “Some of these visitors came just for the day, others spent a night or two, but they all had a positive impact on the local economy.”
    The study found that more than 131,000 of the visitors stayed overnight. The visitors who traveled to Bulloch County because of university-sponsored events helped to support 748 jobs and generated more than $3 million in state and local tax revenue.
    “Tourism is an important part of economic development representing significant opportunities for our community,” said Heidi Jeffers, the executive director of the Statesboro Convention and Visitors Bureau. “As this study represents, Georgia Southern has a major impact on the tourism industry in Bulloch County.”