Promoting the State’s Assets
Tourism group calls on state leaders for investment

The Tourism Federation of Wisconsin (TFW), has called upon state leaders to jumpstart tourism promotion with a $15 million annual investment in the state budget.  The group states that a lack of appropriate funding is squandering one of Wisconsin’s most important, natural, job-creating options in the state – tourism.

“We’re missing a huge opportunity to grow our statewide economy,” said Ed Lump, WRA President and CEO. “Tourism draws people to Wisconsin from nearly everywhere, and that translates into jobs.”  

“Tourism generates $12 billion a year for Wisconsin’s economy,” continued Lump.  “But our state’s current tourism promotional budget of less than $13 million pales in comparison to other states, and we are now losing economic development and job growth opportunities as travelers go elsewhere.”

TFW detailed the industry’s concerns in a recent position paper.  According to the document:

• Last year, Michigan doubled its tourism promotion funding to $30 million, generating $250 million in new economic activity and more than $17.5 million in new state tax revenue.
• In 2008, Illinois spent $48 million on tourism promotion; Colorado $23 million; and Pennsylvania $28 million.
• Wisconsin has reduced its tourism promotion funding commitment to less than $13 million.

Read the full “Crossroads of Opportunity” paper

The TFW’s recommendations include calling on the state’s next governor to become an actively engaged  partner in growing Wisconsin’ tourism industry; establishing a bipartisan goal to set tourism promotional funding at $15 annually; adopting changes to clarify how room taxes can be spent; and creating an inter-departmental task force of the Department of Tourism, DNR, Department of Commerce, Department of Administration and other agencies to develop policies that support existing tourism businesses.

“Policy initiatives like these can boost local economies, generate new state tax revenues and create new jobs,” said Lump.  “We need to invest in our own state and take advantage of what we have.  Right now as other states shine bright spotlights on their attributes, we have but a flashlight.”