Colorado has been the poster child for the importance of government investment in Tourism Promotion. In the early 1990s, the State shuttered its Tourism Department. Within five years, the number of visitors to Colorado had dropped by a third.
As did the State taxes generated by those visitors.
In a flash of economic realization, Colorado re-established its Tourism Department. And, the visitors returned. And dropped off more tax revenue for the State. What a concept...and one that has been documented by some of the top researchers in the country.
Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper understands this dynamic all too well...which is why, in the face of declining resources to run his government, his budget proposal holds the investment in Tourism Promotion steady at $14.6 million for the next fiscal year.
But, there is a "Budget Analyst" squirreled away somewhere in the bowels of a State office building that just released a recommendation that the Legislature slash next year's budget by 35%.
WTF?
Honestly...what are the qualifications for being a Budget Analyst? That you are breathing? Because it certainly has nothing to do with being able to read economic analysis documents and form a logical response.
Sigh...
Recent Comments