Posted 1:35 am Wednesday, June 20, 2012
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Azalea And Spring Flower Trail Brought In $2.67 Million This Year
By CASEY MURPHY
Staff Writer
The 2012 Azalea and Spring Flower Trail welcomed 95,941 visitors and had an economic impact of more than $2.67 million, community leaders announced Tuesday.
Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce Chief Operating Officer Henry Bell said attendance was up from last year. “A lot of that has to do with the great weather we had almost the entire time,” he said during the chamber monthly board meeting.
Bell said this year’s trail saw more visitors from outside Smith County than last year.
Staff Writer
The 2012 Azalea and Spring Flower Trail welcomed 95,941 visitors and had an economic impact of more than $2.67 million, community leaders announced Tuesday.
Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce Chief Operating Officer Henry Bell said attendance was up from last year. “A lot of that has to do with the great weather we had almost the entire time,” he said during the chamber monthly board meeting.
Bell said this year’s trail saw more visitors from outside Smith County than last year.
The total economic impact of the 2012 trail was a 15.2 percent spike from the $2.32 million generated in 2011, according to the 2012 Azalea and Spring Flower Trail Visitor Result Survey, prepared by the Tyler Convention and Visitors Bureau.
“It just goes to show you the amount of impact just one event has on our economy,” Bell said.
This year’s event saw a 4.65 percent increase in visitors compared to 91,677 people in 2011. Of those attendees, 58,397 residents living outside Smith County toured the trail in 2012, a 20.9 percent jump compared to 48,303 the year before.
“It just goes to show you the amount of impact just one event has on our economy,” Bell said.
This year’s event saw a 4.65 percent increase in visitors compared to 91,677 people in 2011. Of those attendees, 58,397 residents living outside Smith County toured the trail in 2012, a 20.9 percent jump compared to 48,303 the year before.
Every year, thousands of tourists flock to Tyler to take in the beauty of the city’s azaleas and other spring flowers. The trail spans 10 miles and hundreds of homes and ran from March 23 through April 8.
This year’s economic impact factored in several events during the weeks-long event, including the Arts & Crafts Fair, the Azalea 10K, Historic Tyler on Tour, Pioneer Day at Parrot Park and the Quilt Show, according to the survey.
The method in determining visitor numbers included summarizing attendance at ticketed events and attractions; group tours booked by the Convention and Visitors Bureau; and analyzing hotel/motel and bed and breakfast room occupancies.
Also during the chamber meeting, Bell announced that the 78th Annual Texas Shrine Association Convention that took place in Tyler earlier this month had more than a $1.5 million economic impact on the local community. He said 13 local hotels were involved.
This year’s economic impact factored in several events during the weeks-long event, including the Arts & Crafts Fair, the Azalea 10K, Historic Tyler on Tour, Pioneer Day at Parrot Park and the Quilt Show, according to the survey.
The method in determining visitor numbers included summarizing attendance at ticketed events and attractions; group tours booked by the Convention and Visitors Bureau; and analyzing hotel/motel and bed and breakfast room occupancies.
Also during the chamber meeting, Bell announced that the 78th Annual Texas Shrine Association Convention that took place in Tyler earlier this month had more than a $1.5 million economic impact on the local community. He said 13 local hotels were involved.
