Every year, the state government can expect to put about 25 percent of tax dollars toward education, including K-12 and higher education. The tax revenue generated through visitor spending directly touches every aspect of our lives, especially education.

Children from local New Orleans schools, like the ones pictured above, benefit directly from tourism tax revenue. (Photo courtesy Laura Slotkoff on Flickr)

In 2010, New Orleans garnered about $250-350 million annually in direct tax revenue from the approximately $5 billion spent by tourists. This revenue not only goes to educating our youth, but also helps families save money.

Without the stream of income from tourism, every family in Louisiana would need to pay about $2,700 more in taxes each year to offset the deficit.

In 2012, a research study in partnership with the University of New Orleans Hospitality Research Center, the New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation, and the New Orleans Convention & Visitors Bureau delved into even more statistics involving tourism. That year, the city surpassed 9 million visitors – the highest number of visitors in nearly ten years.

What’s more, those visitors spent a record-breaking $6 billion, the most in New Orleans’ history. Even those who were here on business (about 14 percent of total travelers) couldn’t resist the incredible food, entertainment, and history our city has to offer. On average, 58 percent of business travelers extended their stay for about 2 extra nights.

We love how tourists having an amazing time getting to know our city translates directly into helping our students. This mutually beneficial relationship has lasting effects in the community, and if students come to understand how closely the hospitality industry relates to education, they can appreciate tourism that much more.