Fairbanks

(Fairbanks, AK) -- Motorcoach & group tourism and travel both to and within Alaska is a powerful economic engine that infuses tourism dollars locally and statewide, creating economic growth, hospitality industry jobs, and new tax revenue, a new interactive online tool recently released by the American Bus Association Foundation (ABAF) reveals.

"This is the first time that the value of motorcoach travel and tourism's impact on Alaska has ever been quantified," said Deb Hickok of the Fairbanks Convention & Visitors Bureau. "Buses bring tourists 55 at a time, and those group tours spending just one night in Fairbanks will leave as much as $11,660 in travel dollars spent on hotels, meals, admission tickets to museums and theatres, shopping and much more. That means more jobs and tax revenue for the state during challenging economic times." A recent analysis by Fountainhead Hotels puts the per coach expenditure closer to $15,000.

Motorcoach-based tourism generates as many as 1,056,750 jobs in communities across the United States, paying almost $40.6 billion in wages and benefits. The ABA Foundation developed the first-of-its-kind online tool to provide an easy way to access and show local and state
officials, Congress and transportation planners how important motorcoach travel and tourism is
to every state and all 435 Congressional districts. It's available to anyone online at http://www.guerrillaeconomics.biz/abafoundation/.
      
"This study shows that in Alaska alone, the motorcoach, tour and travel industry produces 8,400 well-paying jobs, $574,938,500 worth of economic activity, and $186,939,761 million in tax revenue," Hickok added "Our state is a big bus state."

The ABA Foundation interactive research tool includes a map allowing users to click on any state, and from there the ability to click specifically on any Congressional district, for detailed information on the economic contributions of motorcoach-based group tourism in Alaska. It also includes a data summary and key points - and it's free. The groundbreaking online resource also includes a summary of the study methodology.
 
The American Bus Association Foundation (ABAF) is a nonprofit organization with an emphasis on scholarships, research, technology, and continuing education. Find out more at http://www.buses.org/abafoundation.
 
About the FCVB
The Fairbanks Convention and Visitors Bureau is a non-profit marketing organization whose mission is to enhance the quality of the visitor experience and to contribute to the economic well-being of the Fairbanks region by marketing to potential visitors.  The FCVB markets Fairbanks as a year-round destination – filled with light, energy and warmth – by promoting local events, attractions and activities to independent travelers, group tour operators, travel agents, meeting planners and the media. The FCVB also develops infrastructure that supports tourism and the community.