The Peachtree City Tourism Association’s $535,000 budget for the upcoming fiscal year was approved Thursday night by the city council.

This is the association’s first budget in which it will not be managing either the tennis center nor the amphitheater. The tennis center is being operated by Canongate and the amphitheater is under direct city management.

The association, operated by a volunteer board appointed by the city council, was created in 2004 in large part to assume operations of the tennis center and amphitheater. The staff mans the city’s tourism center, located adjacent to the tennis center on Planterra Way just south of Ga. Highway 54 west.

Tourism officials also assist various groups and entities that host special events in Peachtree City, in many cases providing some funding to help promote or operate the event.

The association’s funds come from hotel motel taxes, and because of the economy those revenues will be watched closely so the budget can be adjusted if necessary, said association member Kai Wolter.

The budget includes $15,000 to upgrade the association’s website, www.visitpeachtreecity.com. Those funds will be subject to being trimmed if revenues decrease, and just as employee furloughs were used this year, they may also be needed next year, Wolter noted.

Even if there is a revenue shortfall, the association will continue to fund all city special events in 2010 that it funded in 2009, Wolter said.

The tourism association has two full-time and one half-time positions.

Wolter noted that Peachtree City company NCR just began hosting employees at its customer care university which involves NCR workers worldwide coming to Peachtree City and staying for a week in local hotels.

In addition to the website, the association is also exploring social networking by use of Facebook and it also has an ongoing blog, Wolter said.
Though council approved the budget, it reserved the right to revisit the budget at its spring retreat meeting.

Wolter said the association’s marketing plan is “almost complete” and that he had copies for council members should they wish to review the material.