- Let's say spring break is coming up and you and your friends are trying to decide where you want to go.

One friend wants to hike mountains, one wants to lounge on a beach, another wants to explore a historic city, and you want to attend a festival.

It might seem impossible to please everyone, but in Georgia, it's not.

From mountains to beaches, historic sites, to big events, the state has a little bit of everything for tourists.

Tourism, which is basically people traveling to new places for fun, relaxation, or new experiences, isn't just enjoyable, it's powerful.

It supports businesses, creates jobs, and brings in millions of visitors and billions of dollars every year.

So let's take a closer look at what makes Georgia such a popular destination and how its tourism industry has evolved over time.

(upbeat music) Georgia is well known for its hospitality, but there's a lot more than our sweet tea and peaches that attracts tourists.

Two major factors are Georgia's favorable weather and geographic diversity.

Across the state's five regions, visitors can explore mountains, trails, swamps, and beaches.

Every year, hundreds of thousands of tourists visit the state's Appalachian Plateau region to enjoy gorgeous views from high elevations, like in Cloudland Canyon State Park and Lookout Mountain.

Georgia's Valley and Ridge region brings tourists to its state parks and historic sites, like Fort Mountain, New Echota, and Etowah Indian Mounds.

But it's the state's Blue Ridge region where tourism is the area's economic backbone.

Visitors can hike sections of the Appalachian Trail, take in scenic views, and explore unique towns.

When a tourist visits these areas, they're doing so much more than enjoying Georgia's mountains, they're supporting local businesses.

All sorts of places like restaurants, hotels, shops, and outdoor recreation companies rely on guests to stop by.

Down in the Coastal Plain, the landscape looks very different.

The terrain is mostly flat, but there's still plenty for nature lovers to explore.

The region is home to the Okefenokee Swamp, barrier islands, undeveloped beaches, and a number of state parks.

These destinations support careers in environmental education, park management, and tourism services.

But the region's most popular tourist destination is Georgia's oldest city, Savannah.

The Savannah Historic District offers stunning architecture, picturesque oaks draped in Spanish mosques, and an abundance of shops and restaurants.

With so much going on year round, it's no wonder Savannah is nicknamed the Hostess City of the South.

Meanwhile, the Piedmont region, home to cities like Columbus, Macon, Augusta, and Atlanta, welcomes the highest number of visitors in the state.

Atlanta, the state's capital and largest city, has a long history of hosting big events.

In the decades following the Civil War, civic leaders like Henry Grady promoted a new South by organizing large fairs known as cotton expositions.

Hundreds of thousands traveled to Atlanta for these world-class experiences, where businessmen showcased new agricultural technologies and political leaders spoke about the meaning of the new South.

They were huge events, but they paled in comparison to what the city would host a century later.

The 1996 Summer Olympic Games.

Millions of people attended the festivities.

Businesses expanded, and Atlanta gained worldwide attention, along with thousands of new residents.

Today, Atlanta continues to host major events like sports games, concerts, expositions, and conventions.

But events aren't the only reason people visit Georgia's capital.

Atlanta has museums, historic sites, a zoo, an aquarium, and unique cultural experiences.

Known as the city in the forest, Atlanta offers outdoor spaces like Piedmont Park and the Atlanta Beltline.

People in a variety of careers like community programming, coordinating, and landscaping help keep them vibrant and welcoming.

Major venues, including Mercedes-Benz Stadium, State Farm Arena, Truist Park, and even college stadiums like those at Georgia Tech and Georgia State University hosts sports teams and large-scale events.

Jobs in hospitality, engineering, and marketing ensure visitors have a top-notch experience, which helps boost tourism and revenue.

There's definitely no shortage of things to do in Georgia's capital.

In fact, more tourists visit Atlanta than any other city in Georgia.

Just like Georgia has changed over time, traveling here has too.

In the past, visitors mostly came by train.

Later, as other methods of transportation grew in popularity, more highways were developed and airports were expanded.

Today, millions of travelers pass through Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, one of the busiest airports on Earth.

It connects Georgia to the rest of the world and provides thousands of jobs in fields like security, customer service, and logistics.

While many tourists come from out of the country or out of state, a large number are from within Georgia.

And that's because there are so many places to see and things to do in the peach state.

Festivals, sporting events, concerts, and celebrations bring visitors all year long.

Some favorites include the St.

Patrick's Day Parade in Savannah, the International Cherry Blossom Festival in Macon, the Masters Tournament in Augusta, the Savannah Music Festival, and Oktoberfest in Helen.

And it's not just festivals drawing in crowds.

Georgia's film and TV industry draws visitors eager to see famous filming locations, further boosting tourism across the state.

Georgia also has more than 60 state parks and historic sites where people work in preservation, conservation, and education.

These parks help protect the state's natural and historical treasures so everyone can enjoy them for years to come.

But if the outdoors aren't for you, that's okay.

Georgia is full of indoor attractions too, like museums, historic sites and theaters that showcase the state's culture.

Places like the Springer Opera House in Columbus, the High Museum of Art in Atlanta, the Georgia Museum of Art in Athens, the Tubman Museum in Macon, the Museum of Aviation in Warner Robins, and the Georgia Museum of Agriculture and Historic Village in Tifton put the state's history and art on full display.

These venues help bring Georgia's stories to life while creating jobs for performers, curators, event planners, and administrators.

And tourism supports an even broader range of careers, from front-facing roles like hotel concierges and park rangers, to behind the scenes organizers and managers.

All of these roles work together to create experiences that keep visitors coming back.

So the next time you're trying to decide where to go for spring break, think Georgia.

From mountains to beaches, museums to festivals, the state has something for everyone to enjoy.

Georgia's story is written by the people who explore it, and tourism keeps that story alive.

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