Tut, First Emperor to Royally Impact Atlanta Economy

Global Atlanta

The simultaneous exhibition of tomb relics from China's first emperor and ancient Egypt's boy king will have a royal economic impact on Atlanta, officials projected before the exhibitions launched.

“King Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs,” will bring an estimated $150 million in spending to the metro area, said William Pate, president-elect of the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau.

“In tough economic times, this is going to provide a great stimulus that will help attract visitors from all over the country and all over the world,” Mr. Pate said in prepared remarks at a media preview Nov. 10.

“Those visitors are going to rent hotel rooms, they’re going to eat in our restaurants and they’re going to be going to the other fine attractions that Atlanta has to offer,” he said.

The exhibition began Nov. 15 and is hosted at the Atlanta Civic Center in partnership with Emory University’s Michael C. Carlos Museum through May 25.