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This Budget Cut Wastes Money

Tourism Promotion Connecticut spends literally next to nothing to attract visitors

Hartford Courant Editorial

October 02, 2010

Obliteration of the state's tourism promotion budget doesn't make much sense.

The more you invest in promotion, the more you rake in from tourists, is the way it works. The tourism industry employs more than 100,000 people in Connecticut and generates billions of dollars in spending and taxes.

But cutting the account for tourism promotion to help balance the budget is one area where Gov. M. Jodi Rell and legislators agree, shortsighted as they may be. The state investment has headed downhill fast during the fiscal crisis. There's now a placeholder amount of $1 in the budget.

Luckily, the next governor — whether Democrat Dan Malloy or Republican Tom Foley — will favor a big investment in tourism promotion. At a forum on last week, both pledged to back a $15 million promotion effort. Connecticut's economy should benefit big-time.