Promoting tourism in Polk County makes terrific economic sense. Why? Because, by definition, money spent by tourists from outside Polk County is money brought into the local economy from outside. With the rising price of gasoline a tourist destination that is close in proximity to a major population center, and boasts the striking natural beauty that Polk County offers, is a natural draw for those tourist dollars.
Some think that only hotels and restaurants benefit from increased tourism. This ignores the fact that a dollar spent at a restaurant is spent again by the waitstaff or restaurant owner (most often a county resident) and most often in a local business. This same dollar is then spent again and again in the local economy. Furthermore, tourists spend at businesses other than motels and restaurants. I think it's safe to say that vacationers spend more freely than people who stay at home. We save up for vacations so we can spend more on attractions and recreation.
But the major point is that these are NEW dollars injected into the economy, not recycled money from our own pockets.
The folks staffing the Polk County Information Center, which is ideally located just across the U. S. 8 bridge, field more than tourism-related questions. The Center is entering its 15th year of operation.
Many inquiries concern re-locating businesses to Polk County, where to cast votes in elections, where to pay taxes, information concerning recycling programs, as well as Sheriff's Department and other aspects of Polk County Government.
In June, 2008, the Center had a total of 8619 contacts, including 1872 e-mail requests for information, 2216 "hits" on its web site, 1008 telephone requests for information, 3472 entries in the visitor's book, and 4 "snail mail" requests for information (proving that there are still people using the U. S. Mail!) The Center provides the Polk County Visitor's Guide, County and State Maps, State and Federal Parks information packets, information about local churches, fishing/hunting regulations and maps, snowmobile and ATV maps, biking and hiking guides, resort guides, campground locations, motel and Bed & Breakfast maps, restaurant guides and information about local real estate. And this is only a partial list.
The advertising obtained by the staff at the Polk County Information Center is priceless. Through their close relationships with the Wisconsin Department of Tourism, Minnesota Monthly, Wisconsin Trails, AAA, Twin Cities and area newspapers, television and radio stations and travel shows, the staff works tirelessly to keep Polk County "on the radar" for potential tourism and economic development. For more information, contact the Center at www.polkinfo@charterinternet.net or check out the Center's web site at www.polkcountytourism.com.
Here's the bottom line: According to State of Wisconsin figures, tourists spent an estimated $75.3 million in Polk County in 2007. Tourist dollars supported 1,810 full-time equivalent jobs in the county.
For the benefit received through the Polk County Information Center's efforts, taxpayers pay $95,000. Not a bad return on investment.
Cutting funding for the Polk County Information Center would be nothing short of killing the fabled "Goose that lays golden eggs." Very short-sighted...
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4 comments:
Nice to see you blogging again, Diane. We need a forum like this for county issues.
Former Supr. Carl Holmgren used to argue that the impact of tourism was inflated in that people who own summer homes (and their guests) are counted as spending tourist dollars contributing to the $75M total. He made the point that these people -- and I don't know what percent of our total "tourist" business they represent -- would vacation in Polk County regardless of tourist promotion efforts, since they already own property here.
The other argument we often hear is that the businesses that benefit from tourist promotion are not asked to contribute directly to the operation of the information center.
I'm not suggesting that we cut the Information Center loose, but there are going to be extremely difficult choices to be made in putting together the 2009 budget. If it's possible to find alternative funding sources, the county could definitely use the savings elsewhere.
The tourism center is another "niceity" that must be looked at. ALL the numbers with it are highly inflated. Most of the "tourism" statistics and dollars in this county are paid by weekenders and summer residents who already pay the bulk of real estate taxes here. The bulk of the center users are pass throughs and therefore, by rights the center should be wholly funded by the state. If the center did not exist, I would bet anyone a steak dinner, that the tourist dollars spent in Polk County would NOT change!
"vacationers spend more freely than people who stay at home." I think this is pretty true. Travels do contribute to the local economy. We created a website OurExplorer.com, helping to increase income of local tour guides.
As a new volunteer with the City of St Croix Falls my office is in the same building as the Information Center (IC), and I have to say that I’m mightily amazed at the steady stream of visitors that come through the IC every weekday (and I hear the weekends are crazy busy). I had no idea how important this resource was to our communities.
Just this week, with the limited time that I spend in the IC, there was a couple from England, and today they had a husband and wife from France, with their four children, asking for things to do in the area. The family intended to stay overnight at the Holiday Inn Express. On the wall of the IC there are maps where people put a pin showing where they’re from, and the number of pins in Europe alone is staggering not to mention the pins placed by people from the US, and elsewhere around the world.
The IC is a very welcoming and friendly place and I hope that anyone who thinks this is an unnecessary resource will visit – sit awhile - have a cup of coffee, and see what a value this is to your county.
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