Reply #1: Georgia tourism boosters brace for impact of crackdown on illegal immigration

[pampango]

http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-politics-elections/georgia-tourism-boosters-brace-939693.html

As Gov. Nathan Deal prepares to sign into law a similar immigration measure, House Bill 87, tourism officials here are employing a series of strategies. They're pointing out the differences between Arizona's law and the Georgia legislation, highlighting Atlanta's civil rights history and emphasizing how cancellations could hurt tens of thousands of metro area workers.

Their biggest concern is the series of cancellations that struck Arizona soon after Gov. Jan. Brewer signed that state's hotly contested law. In all, the Grand Canyon State has lost about 40 conventions amid economic boycotts inspired by its crackdown on illegal immigration, according to the Arizona Hotel & Lodging Association. One estimate says the lost bookings have cost Arizona $141 million.

A study released in November by the Washington-based Center for American Progress, a liberal policy group that opposes Arizona's immigration law, estimates that canceled conventions have cost Arizona a total of $141 million in direct spending, along with 2,761 jobs and $9.4 million in tax revenue.

For example, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., a black fraternity, moved its convention from Phoenix to Las Vegas last year. The fraternity said Arizona’s law could “put the civil rights and the very dignity of our members at risk during their stay in Phoenix.” The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority said 1,489 people attended the event, creating a $1.1 million economic impact for Las Vegas. ... The National Minority Supplier Development Council is expecting about 6,000 people to attend its annual conference at the GWCC this fall, Rand said. Last year, the council moved its conference from Phoenix to Miami Beach, saying Arizona's new law was "inconsistent with the ideals and principles" of the group. Miami Beach convention officials put its economic impact at $6.9 million.