A new visitors center has opened at Hartsfield-Jackson International, the first official state visitor information center to open at the airport.
The new visitors center opened Tuesday near the meet-and-greet area for arriving passengers in the domestic terminal, featuring a glass entry and giant HD video walls showing images and videos of metro Atlanta and scenery from different regions of Georgia.
Credit: Kelly Yamanouchi
Credit: Kelly Yamanouchi
It's one of 12 official Georgia visitor information centers throughout the state. The others are on "major travel arteries" in Augusta, Columbus, Kingsland, Lavonia, Plains, Ringgold, Savannah, Tallapoosa, Valdosta, West Point and Sylvania.
The screens also show photos posted by social media users with the hashtag #weloveatl, according to the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Credit: Kelly Yamanouchi
Credit: Kelly Yamanouchi
The development of the $200,000 visitors center was a partnership between the Atlanta Convention and Visitor Bureau and the tourism division of the state Department of Economic Development.
"It gives us an opportunity to catch a lot of people," including those who fly into Atlanta and rent a car to drive to Florida, Alabama or another destination, Georgia deputy commissioner of tourism Kevin Langston.
He said visitors center staff can help tourists plan trips, get travel guides and learn about attractions, restaurants, as well as music venues and music landmarks as part of the state tourism division's focus in 2016 as the "Year of Georgia Music."
The new visitors center will replace the nearby Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau kiosk, which will close in coming weeks.
Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau CEO William Pate said nearly 50 million people visit metro Atlanta annually. The tourism industry employs 426,000 Georgians, according to Langston.
Credit: Kelly Yamanouchi
Credit: Kelly Yamanouchi
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