04/22/2006

Michigan to broaden its approach to tourism

Out-of-state travelers sought to boost economy

By Vanessa McCray

vmccray@record-eagle.com

TRAVERSE CITY — The state will spend $15 million in the next two years to promote Michigan as a tourist destination to out-of-state travelers.

The agreement between Gov. Jennifer Granholm and legislative Republicans gives Travel Michigan, the state's travel promotion agency, $7.5 million in 2006 and also in 2007.

"We should be a national destination, and we are not. And we are not because we haven't communicated the message to a national audience," said Brad Van Dommelen, president of the Traverse City Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Van Dommelen said the $15 million will bring Michigan closer to the tourist promotion budgets of surrounding states. But the state that boasts miles of Great Lakes shoreline and the birthplace of the automobile still spends less than Pennsylvania and Illinois.

"We've been very dependent upon Michigan residents to drive our tourism economy here, and now that the economy is in trouble here in the state and discretionary income is not available as it has been in the past, we are seeing a significant impact in the tourism," Van Dommelen said.

Travel Michigan officials met Friday to decide how to spend the funds, an agency spokeswoman said. Those decisions include when and where to market Michigan as a travel destination.

The Republican leadership initially wanted the money spread over the five years as originally proposed in the funding request. The tourism industry requested it be front-loaded over two years. Granholm pushed for a two-year time frame to spend the money.

"We want to move now, because that is a huge economic development," said Liz Boyd, the governor's spokeswoman.

Rep. Howard Walker of Traverse City said the state economy is "in tough straights," and it makes sense to give a two-year jump start to the tourism industry.

"Michigan has a lot to offer, which I think a lot of people in other states don't know about; obviously, these tourism dollars are effectively spent," Walker said.

The funds are part of a wide-ranging plan to fund road, economic development and other projects.