> Features > Pg 2 Feature Stories > Tourism industry needs more state funding
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Tourism industry needs more state funding
By G. Michael Dobbs
Managing Editor
WEST SPRINGFIELD Area legislators learned on Friday morning the role they need to play to keep the $20 billion tourism industry in the Commonwealth growing: increase marketing and support funding and more tourists will come.
Also important to the local tourism industry is to keep legislation that would establish more taxes on meals, hotel room or tickets from becoming law
Most of the Western Massachusetts delegation attended the legislative breakfast at Storrowton Tavern sponsored by the Greater Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau (GSCVB) and the Western Massachusetts Economic Development Council.
In the Pioneer Valley figures for 2005 that were released at the breakfast indicated there was $523.7 million spent by tourist in the three counties of Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin. This resulted in $119.7 million in payroll for 4,610 employees with $29 million in state tax revenue and $11 million in local tax receipts.
A group of speakers came before the legislators to ask for their support on a number of key issues.
Mary Kay Wydra, president of the (GSCVB), explained the 13 regional tourism councils need more funding to help better market the state. Craig Rydin, the chief executive officer of Yankee Candle, underscored that point by showing that markets of a similar size to this one which spend much more on additional marketing dollars have resulted in dramatic increased in hotel stays and uses of conventions centers. There is a $2.5 million spent for marketing in Worcester, $2.8 million in Providence, Rhode Island and $2.9 million in Hartford, Conn. For the Pioneer Valley there is $1.8 million.
Greg Chiecko, the chair of the GSCVB board said tourism is alive in the Pioneer Valley and that 10 to 15 years ago, many visitors wouldn't have thought of coming here. He said the tourism industry "touches every single piece of the service sector in the Pioneer Valley."
Judy Matt, president of the Spirit of Springfield, noted there has been a 27.5 percent increase in visitors to Springfield's CityStage and a 37 percent increase to the museums at the Quadrangle. Her organization's Bright Nights saw a 10.2 percent increase over the previous season.
Matt said that a tax on entertainment tickets and the local options meal tax could make these and other Western Massachusetts attractions less competitive.
Matt Hollander, the executive director of the MassMutual Center, also urged the legislators to defeat a bill that would prohibit circuses and other traveling shows featuring elephants from using a traditional training tool. Hollanders said that circuses are heavily regulated by the federal government and if the bill was passed, circuses, such as Ringling Brothers, Barnum and Bailey, would skip the Bay State.
Hollander said he feared the legislation would have a long-term effect. Feld Entertainment, the company that owns Ringling Brothers, also presents several ice shows, such as Disney on ice. Hollander said there is the possibility that Feld would pull these shows from civic center venues in Massachusetts as well.
Hollander questioned what next would be banned in the state and feared other attractions that featured animals such as bull riding and the Lipizzaner Stallions would be prohibited.
In a question and answer period follwing the presentation, State Representative John Sciback (D-South Hadley) expressed his opposition to the bill that would allow communities to impose a local meal tax. State Representative Cheryl Coakley Rivera (D-Springfield) said there was a lot of momentum against the bill in the Legislature.
State Senator Michael Knapik (R-Westfield) said the issue carried a mixed message as the tourism industry opposed the local options tax, but that some mayors were asking for the ability to raise more revenue through it.
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> Features > Pg 2 Feature Stories > Tourism industry needs more state funding
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