January 13, 2009 12:42 PM
Should state spend money on tourism promotion in tough times?
Tourism is vital to Colorado and generates money to pay for a variety of services. But in tough economic times and with the state looking at a $604 million budget shortfall, how much money should the state pump into tourism promotion?
Ed Sealover writes:
Under state law, the legislature gives some $19.6 million in limited-gaming fund revenues to the Colorado Tourism Office each year as long as the general fund budget grows by 6 percent.Most of that goes to ads in publications outside the state, vacation guides and the recently revamped colorado.com site, said Matt Cheroutes, Office of Economic Development and International Trade spokesman.
But with sales and income tax revenues continuing to decline, the general fund budget is not expected to come close to its 6 percent limit next year, and the legislature is not obligated to fund tourism.
So, a debate has begun on how much of the state's limited resources should be funneled to tourism.
The state slashed tourism funding once before, from 1993-98. During that period, Colorado's share of the national overnight visits fell by one-third, from 2.7 percent of the market to 1.8 percent, said Sen. Al White, R-Hayden.
Tourism is now the second- highest employment sector in the state, with 143,000 jobs, Cheroutes said. Overnight visitors contribute $9.8 billion a year, he said.
Should the state cut back on tourism funding? Is that short-sighted? Will people quit travelling because of the recession?
January 13, 2009
2:21 PM
Ben writes:
People aleady know about Colorado. I would like my tax money back (used for tourism) so my family can spend it in Colorado seeing the sites.
January 13, 2009
2:33 PM
Anonymous writes:
Hell no. There are enough people coming to this state already.
January 13, 2009
3:54 PM
Tbone writes:
"Overnight visitors contribute $9.8 billion a year"
Are we really debating whether or not this figure should be increased?
January 14, 2009
7:20 AM
gr8fuldude writes:
As our second highest employment sector, I think promoting tourism is money well spent.
January 14, 2009
10:24 AM
freemarketworks writes:
Of course Colorado should be promoting tourism. A great deal of our state revenue is generated via tourism. For example, a great deal of taxes are taken in from vistors to Rocky Mountain National Park, Mesa Verde, Gunnison, our ski areas, wine country and those attracted by the regional appeal of the Denver Metro Area.
I think the statistics show that promoting tourism increases tourist derived tax revenues by much more than the public relations and advertising efforts cost.
January 14, 2009
10:51 AM
SASQUATCH writes:
SEND THE BILL TO TIM GEITNER, OUR NEW SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY.
Geitner doesn't bother to pay income taxes so he must be loaded!
CHANGE you can believe in!