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Explore Coweta reports rising visitation and $200 million local economic impact in 2025
Summary
Heather Daniel, CEO of the county's destination marketing organization, told commissioners that 2025 brought notable growth — an 87% rise in website users, 65% of visitors from out of state and an estimated Coweta economic impact exceeding $200 million — and outlined grant and marketing programs for local businesses.
Heather Daniel, president and CEO of the county's destination marketing organization, presented the 2025 annual tourism overview to the Coweta County Board of Commissioners on Feb. 3.
Daniel said visitor tracking (via commercially available research software) estimated that visitors accounted for 19% of devices in the destination and 65% of those visitors came from out of state; 22% of tracked visitors stayed overnight. She reported an 87% increase in website users during 2025 (more than 400,000 new users) and cited outbound market growth from Atlanta, Nashville, Savannah and Gulf Coast markets.
Daniel highlighted economic impacts: according to the state tourism office, Georgia tourism produced large statewide impacts, and locally she said Coweta saw an estimated economic impact of over $200 million in 2025 and generated about $15 million in state and local tax. She said visitor spending averaged more than $100 per person and that 26% of visitor spending benefits local businesses (as opposed to national chains).
Programs and outreach: Daniel described a local grant program (two annual cycles, awards up to $5,000 per business) that has delivered over $60,000 to date, an ambassador program with eight graduates, and a forthcoming “curious cards” digital discount card to encourage visitors and residents to patronize local businesses. She said PR placements and a World Cup landing page drove substantial traffic and that earned media in 2025 had an ad value she estimated at more than $5 million.
Why it matters: staff framed tourism as an economic development tool that increases sales tax collections and supports infrastructure and services paid for locally. Commissioners thanked Daniel for the presentation and the board received the report; no formal action was required.
