Atlanta tourism boosters oppose Ga. immigration measure

By Jeremy Redmon

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau went on record Friday against Georgia’s stringent new immigration enforcement legislation over concerns that it could hurt the region’s $10 billion tourism industry.

By a unanimous vote, the bureau’s executive committee passed a resolution saying House Bill 87 is “unwelcoming” and could “tarnish Atlanta’s reputation as one of America’s most welcoming cities.”

“The loss of potential revenues associated with conventions and tourism would have an adverse effect on Atlanta’s economy and the businesses and employees directly and indirectly associated with Atlanta’s hospitality industry,” the resolution says.

Atlanta’s convention and tourism boosters are hoping Georgia won’t suffer like Arizona, which lost dozens of conventions after that state enacted similar legislation last year. The leisure and hospitality industry ranks as the fourth largest employer in the Atlanta region with about 223,000 jobs, according to the bureau.

The bureau is planning to send a copy of its resolution to Gov. Nathan Deal. A spokeswoman for Deal confirmed this week that the Republican governor plans to sign HB 87 during the first two weeks of May.

William Pate, the bureau’s president, told the committee before its vote Friday that some of the bureau’s convention customers have called to inquire about the legislation, but none have canceled their events.

“There is obviously a lot of concern about the potential impact this legislation could have on our industry because of the situation in Arizona,” Pate told the committee. “... We are going to be out there very aggressively."

The sponsor of HB 87 -- Republican Rep. Matt Ramsey of Peachtree City -- responded to the resolution Friday.

"I strongly disagree with the notion that Georgia's economic prosperity will suffer because we chose to stand up for the rule of law," Ramsey said in an e-mail. "HB 87 was carefully and exactingly crafted through months of study and revisions to address the legal concerns raised in other states and to ensure its provisions only burden those that are in this country illegally. ... As Georgia policymakers, we welcome and encourage all businesses, conventions and tourists to come to our great state."

Georgia’s HB 87 would empower local and state police to investigate the immigration status of certain suspects; would require many businesses to use a federal work authorization program to confirm their newly hired employees are eligible to work in the U.S.; and would punish people who transport or harbor illegal immigrants.

Brian Robinson, a spokesman for the governor, said Friday, “Illegal immigration costs Georgia taxpayers hundreds of millions, if not billions of dollars, each year at the city, county and state levels. Georgia will treat everyone in our state with respect, and we want to encourage immigrants who settle in Georgia to go through the proper legal channels. Frankly, Georgia is leading the way by requiring that employers follow existing federal law.”