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TRAVELERS SPEND $10.4 BILLION IN WACVB MEMBER DESTINATONS
According to figures from a recently released by the Wisconsin Department of Tourism study, travelers spent $10.4 billion last year in areas represented by WACVB members.
The 2006 Economic Impact of Traveler Expenditures on Wisconsin Study, showed that 81% of all travel expenditures in Wisconsin occured in 33 counties where convention and visitor bureaus and chambers of commerce that belong to WACVB are located. These organizations are responsible for promoting their destination's tourism product.
The Department's study showed that traveler's spent a total of $12.8 billion in Wisconsin during 2006, generating more than 327,000 jobs and $2 billion in state and local government taxes and fees. The study is an important tool for WACVB members to guage how their destination's tourism industry is performing.
CAPITOL WATCH
WACVB continues to monitor numerous tourism-related proposals and bills during the 2007-08 Legislative session.
WACVB was pleased that the Legislature's Joint Finance Committee approved Governor Doyle's proposal to maintain the Department of Tourism's $15 million annual budget and is awaiting action on a couple of other budget items. WACVB opposes an item that would increase the car rental tax in Southeast Wisconsin from $2 to $15 to fund light rail in that region. While the association supports light rail, it does not support the funding mechanism. WACVB also opposes a measure to allow downtown Milwaukee to be designated as a premier resort area because it does not fit the intent of the legislation and the funding would not necessarily support tourism-related projects.
WACVB is supporting other legislation making its way through the State Capitol. WACVB and the Wisconsin Association of Tourism Attractions expect legislation will be introduced soon that will allow attractions within 30 miles of designated highways to have the opportunity to apply for the placement on specific information signs. The current limit is five miles. WACVB also supports SB 24 which moves up the new film industry tax incentive program to 7/1/07 from 1/1/08, and SB 150 which bans smoking in all public workplaces. | 
