HAMMOND – The South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority has announced the results of a study that shows tourism contributed $1.6 billion to the Lake County economy in 2010.

The study was conducted by Certec Inc. of Kentucky, which said the contribution was up from $1.3 billion in 2001. In addition, the study showed tourism provided 14,000 jobs.

Of the $1.6 billion total, Speros Batistatos, president and CEO of the South Shore CVA said $1.4 billion came from visitors from outside the area.