France and McCarty Join Tourism Caucus

HARTFORD – State Reps. Mike France (R-42) and Kathleen McCarty (R-38) of Southeastern Connecticut have joined together with founder Sen. Paul Formica and fellow lawmakers to advocate for policies that will enhance tourism as part of the Legislature’s newly formed Tourism Caucus.

According to the CT Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD), 2015 saw 6.7 million visitors to the State of Connecticut – a 12% increase from 2014 – with a majority (2.7 million) visiting during the summer and bringing in most revenue through lodging. The most popular purpose for visiting (50%) was for shopping, while entertainment (35%) and outdoor recreation (20%) were less sought-after. Once here, tourists also engaged in gaming, dining and visits to the beach.

However, the legislators also want to promote our forests and parks, fairs and festivals, museums and nightlife as they see very few tourists by comparison.

Connecticut’s nonprofit arts and culture organizations and their audiences have great potential in contributing to tourism. In 2014, cultural entertainment had a $653 million economic impact on the state, generating $59 million for local and state government, and supported more than 18,000 jobs.

The Tourism Caucus has met regularly since its establishment in early April, recently hosting the Department of Transportation (DOT) to discuss policy regarding signage to enhance the ability of tourists to locate travel destinations in Connecticut; especially in our more rural parts of the state. In addition, to better understand trends in tourism, several members of the Tourism Caucus attended a presentation by Tim Sullivan, Deputy Commissioner of the DECD, at an event on April 8th in Mystic hosted by the Eastern Connecticut Chamber of Commerce.

“I was interested in joining this caucus because tourism is such a vital part of Southeastern Connecticut’s economy. We need to continue promoting tourism as a source of revenue at a time when the budget is cutting such important services,” said Rep. McCarty. “In Waterford alone, there are too many attractive destinations to mention, but in close proximity we have the Crystal Mall, Waterford Speed bowl, O’Neill Theater and Harkness Memorial Park; which provide visitors with shopping, entertainment, history and many outdoor activities. In Montville, we have the casino, Montville Worldwide of Sports and Nature’s Art Village. I would like to see a collaboration and ongoing communication formed between the caucus and the Southeastern Connecticut Cultural Coalition, as well as the Chambers of Commerce and other organizations, which have long brought vitality and economic growth to our coastal communities.”

“I appreciate the leadership of Senator Formica in creating the new Tourism Caucus to provide strong, cohesive representation in the Legislature for our tourism industry,” said Rep. Mike France. “My first-term focus for tourism has been on improving the ability of out-of-state tourists to find our many renowned farm wineries along the Connecticut Wine Trail through improved signage. I continue to work with DOT to increase destination signage along our state highways that will enhance the experience of visitors to our state. Yet there is still much more to do; the industry needs boosting to attract more tourists to Connecticut. To that end, I recently attended an informational meeting on the new Thames River Heritage Park, which I hope we will continue to promote through this caucus.”

The Southeastern Connecticut Cultural Coalition is a non-profit organization that seeks to play a creative, innovative role fostering partnerships among cultural sector assets and other regional initiatives seeking to advance regional identity, and attract and retain businesses, residents, and visitors. Learn about their upcoming events by following them on Facebook.

For more on Connecticut’s Tourism sector, please visit the DECD Offices of Culture and Tourism’s website.