Tourism: A Good Investment

Our entire Commonwealth is a wealth of unique, historic and cultural treasures, but there is one attraction that truly sets us apart from the rest. Only in Massachusetts can visitors experience the birth of America first-hand, from the landing of the Pilgrims in Plymouth to Paul Revere’s ride and the shot heard around the world.

We also boast beautiful beaches, picturesque mountains, top cultural and educational institutions and exquisite works of art throughout the state.

As our slogan says, “It’s all here.”

That’s why we welcome nearly 19 million domestic and international visitors every year in Massachusetts who spend $15 billion annually. And, it’s these dollars that support nearly 130,000 jobs in tourism-related industries, such as public and private transportation, food service, entertainment, retail trade and travel planning.

And that $15 billion generates almost $1 billion in state and local taxes.

In Plymouth County alone, domestic travelers spend nearly $500 million, supporting nearly 4,000 jobs and $100 million on payroll. This spending produces more than $80 million in state and local tax receipts.

Almost $261 million of domestic traveler spending in Plymouth County comes from the town of Plymouth, where tourists enjoy visiting many sights including Plymouth Rock, Plimoth Plantation and the Pilgrim Hall Museum.

The tourism industry is the third largest industry in Massachusetts, and it is essential to our overall economic health.

There are 16 individual tourism regions in the Commonwealth, and each region is promoted by a non-profit regional tourism council. These regional councils are invaluable resources for learning about local attractions, accommodations, dining, shopping and other local attractions, and it has been an ongoing priority of mine to make sure we continue to fund the tourism councils and keep them running at full capacity.

In fact, our budget for the new fiscal year, just signed by the governor last week, includes $6 million for regional tourism councils with the goal of adding new jobs and helping our economy to grow.

This funding is a 100 percent increase from the 2011 fiscal year.

We must continue to do everything possible to market our Commonwealth across the country and around the world. It is because of the efforts of our local tourism councils that visitors find their way to Plymouth, the South Shore, Cape Cod and other regions of the state in a highly competitive tourism market.

Investing in tourism is an investment in Massachusetts and all the communities and businesses that make us special.