Travelers spent $129 million and were responsible for 1,569 jobs last year in Limestone County, according a report conducted for the Alabama Tourism Department.

That figure represents a 3.9 percent increase in traveler spending on hotels, restaurants, shopping and transportation.

Statewide the tourism industry grew by 5.4 percnet with more than 25 million visitors spending $13.4 billion last year, according to the report conducted by Auburn University Montgomery.

“The tourism numbers for 2016 bring great economic news for Alabama,” state tourism director Lee Sentell said. “The dollars spent on tourism creates jobs, it grows local economies and generates needed tax revenues. Travel spending in Alabama has doubled over the previous 14 years.”

Without the dollars collected by the tourism industry each household in the state would end up paying $444 in additional taxes, according to the report developed by economist Dr. Keivan Deravi.

The five counties in which tourists spent the most are: Baldwin County with $4.2 billion in travel-related spending, Jefferson County with $1.9 billion, Madison County with $1.2 billion, Mobile County with $1.1 billion and Montgomery County with $814 million.

The complete state tourism economic impact report will be available in early May.