Alabama Gulf Shores Tourism Hits Record $923M in 2025 Surge

Gulf Shores and Orange Beach Tourism unveiled staggering 2025 figures at its annual Tourism Summit, revealing record lodging revenue of $923 million across Alabama's Beaches—including Gulf Shores, Orange Beach and Fort Morgan. The total topped 2024's $871 million and more than doubled figures from a decade earlier, underscoring the Gulf Coast's transformation into a premier family destination.[1][2][3][5] Retail activity mirrored the strength, with $1.42 billion in sales edging out the prior year's $1.41 billion and marking the fifth straight year above $1.3 billion in taxable retail. Since 2021, cumulative taxable retail sales have exceeded $7 billion, driven by new luxury resorts and attractions drawing Southeastern families to the 32 miles of sugary white sands.[1][2] State tourism officials tie the surge to recent Gulf Coast developments, including high-end resort openings that align with a 12% statewide visitor spending increase reported earlier. While specific 2025 statewide totals remain pending, the beaches' performance eclipses past records, bolstering local economies in Baldwin County amid steady visitation.[1][5]