State Tourism Office Budgets See 8 Percent Decline

June 3, 2003

State Tourism Office Budgets See 8 Percent Decline
A Travel Industry Association of America survey of state tourism offices reveals travel and tourism budgets are down 8 percent compared to fiscal year 2001-2002.

According to TIA’s 2002-2003 Survey of U.S. State and Territory Tourism Offices, states plan to spend a projected $554.2 million for travel and tourism development and promotion in fiscal year 2002-2003. The survey includes responses from 45 states, not including Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Tennessee and the five U.S. territories.

The top-spending tourism states respectively are Hawaii, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Texas and Florida. Although the overall numbers revealed decreases in budgets, several states reported increases in travel and tourism budgets, including Nebraska, Montana, Alaska and Maine.

To read more, go to TIA.org