Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal touted the importance of tourism to a gathering of the state’s top tourism professionals as the 2011 Governor’s Conference on Tourism wrapped up Wednesday at the Wilson Convention Center in Macon.

“Tourism is essential to our state,” Deal said. “It accounts for about 12.1 percent of our state’s revenue and that’s certainly not an insignificant part of it. I think the reality of it is that it could account for even a greater part of our state revenue.”

More than 450 people in the tourism industry -- from Georgia’s convention and visitor bureaus, attractions and hotels -- attended the three-day event held in Macon. Deal was the keynote speaker during a luncheon.

Due to the downturn in the economy, people are not traveling as far away from home for getaways, Deal said.

“If they don’t go far away or leave our state, hopefully they will spend money (within the state),” he said. “We’ve just got a lot to be proud of, and we’ve just got to make sure we let people know about it.”

Visitors to Georgia spent $21 billion in 2010, up 8.3 percent from 2009, according to the U.S. Travel Association.

Also more than 233,800 jobs are directly attributed to the tourism industry, accounting for $6.8 billion in payroll last year.

“The more revenue (those who work in tourism) help bring into our state, the easier it is for us to fund those other important functions to keep our state going,” Deal said.

Wednesday’s event was also an opportunity to present a number of statewide awards, which included:

-- Georgia Holiday Smack-Down Award, Visit Savannah.

-- Paul Broun Award for Marketing Initiatives, Columbus Convention & Visitors Bureau.

-- Larry Allen Tourism Leadership Award, Theresa Jenkins, executive director of the Marietta Welcome Center and Visitors Bureau.

-- Al Burris Award for Creative Expression, AthFest and the University of Georgia New Media Institute.

-- Tom Kilgore Lifetime Achievement Award, Jeannie Buttrum, the Georgia Department of Economic Development’s Classic South Regional Tourism Representative.

-- Tourism Champion Private Sector Award, Rod Musselman, recently retired general manager of Hilton Savannah DeSoto.

-- Tourism Champion Partnership Award, Luckie-Marietta District in Atlanta.

-- Tourism Champion in Government Award, Rep. Lynn Smith of Newnan.

-- Tourism Champion Product Development Award, Augusta Canal Authority.

The conference was hosted by the Georgia Department of Economic Development, Georgia Association of Convention & Visitors Bureaus and the Tourism Development Alliance of Georgia.

The 2012 Governor’s Conference on Tourism will be held next year in Atlanta.

To contact writer Linda S. Morris, call 744-4223.