The Birmingham region is currently on track to see 2023 tourism numbers that nearly reach pre-COVID levels according to John Oros, president and CEO of the Greater Birmingham Convention & Visitors Bureau. The bureau estimates that over 4,000,000 people will Jefferson County this year and spend somewhere around $2.5 billion.

In his Q&A with the Lede this week, Oros said getting the word out about all the great things the Birmingham metro has to offer is the key to keeping tourism numbers climbing.

What are you guys working on right now that you’re really excited about for 2024?

Our primary responsibility is to market, promote, and sell Jefferson County, all of our municipalities in Jefferson County, to promote tourism into our area. And we’re always looking at trying to refresh our message out there as far as reaching the customers in various markets through social media, through print advertising, through working with the travel media and all of these different potential markets.

So, we’re always trying to promote all the great assets that we have. Like our food scene, our great sports facilities here, and our civil rights history. And all of the different, unique, one-of-a-kind experiences that exist here as a result of all the great things that we have in the city. Such as great shopping and amazing golf because of our position with the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail courses here.