Visitors to Scott County increased their spending by 10 percent in 2011 over 2010, according to the 2011 county-by-county impact on tourism statistics released by the US Travel Association.

Total visitor expenditures came to $566 million, up 10.8 percent, generating $27.7 million in state taxes (an increase of 4.2 percent) and $8.7 million in local taxes (an increase of 7.9 percent).

Total tourism employment in 2011 was 5,800, up 3.3 percent from 2010, with a total payroll of $86.7 million, up 7.9 percent.

"These are terrific numbers and show that travel and tourism continues to lead the pace in economic recovery," said Joe Taylor, president/CEO of the Quad Cities Convention and Visitors Bureau Tuesday when 385 passengers of the American Queen, docked in Davenport, were touring the Quad Cities.

When combined with Rock Island County numbers released in July, total tourism tourism statistics for the two counties during 2011 include $767 million in total visitor expenditures, state tax receipts of $37 million and local tax receipts of $12.4 million.

The combined tourism employment was 7,560 with a total payroll of $137.7 million.