Tourism booms in Allegany County

Cumberland Times-News:

Allegany County had the highest increase in tourism tax revenue generated in Maryland between fiscal year 2013 and 2014, gaining more than 10 percent. , that meant more than 267,000 overnight visitors and 300,000 visitors who spent a day in the county, according to state estimates.

Tourism generated more than $1.4 million in room and other tourism-related taxes, and more than $4.2 million in other fiscal year 2014 sales taxes, according to a report by the Maryland Tourism Development Board and the Department of Business and Economic Development (DBED) issued in early January 2015.

Executive director of Allegany County Tourism, Barbara Buehl, said that the use of social media played a big role. As an example, the Mountain Maryland Facebook page currently has more than 48,000 likes, up from less than 10,000 just more than a year ago. The C & O Canal, Rocky Gap Casino Resort, and the Great Allegheny Passage trails draw many to the area.

Nearby Garrett County is also enjoying a boom. Room taxes totaled more than $2.2 million and related sales taxes were tallied at more than $3.1 million, according to the report.

'Tourism growth strong in Allegany County'

Image with thanks to Jaycon https://www.flickr.com/photos/javcon117/