Support Grassroots Tourism Promotion

Score (154)

Congratulations on becoming Governor!!! Data has indicated that for every dollar spent on tourism-related advertising for New York, the return on investment in the form of touist spending is $6-7 or more (That's $6-7 dollars earned for every $1 spent - find another state agency or program that can do that!). Money spent by the state government to fund tourism promotion programs actually earns money for the state, unlike most other state-funded programs and agency. And yet, there has been a steady downtrend in funding for tourism promotion. I can't fathom why New York would underfund and further cut funding for something that directly benefits stakeholders at many levels - the business people and their employees who serve tourists, the local governments which reap taxes from food, lodging, entertainment and shopping experiences, and state government which also benefits from those associated taxes. New York lags far behind adjacent states, such as Pennsylvania, in its funding of tourism promotion at the local, regional and state level, which it should show its appreciation for the revenue brought in by tourism and fund tourism promotion at a much higher level. It can only mean more money for the state's coffers.
 - Submitted by Suzanne Bixby on 11.10.06