Newport's Sister City Trips Challenged in PBN Story

NEWPORT, RI — Newport's sister city arrangements have benefited councilors -- and possibly their family members -- in the form of trips to Italy and other spots, but according to Providence Business News, the taxpayers may not be seeing much, if anything, in the way of economic benefits.

While other U.S. cities, such as Fort Worth, Texas, have reported "an annual $2.6 million economic impact and an annual flow of 500 visitors participating in cultural and educational exchanges from its eight sister-city partnerships," the information about Newport's gains from its six sister cities is not being expressed in hard facts.

"Evidence of benefits from Rhode Island-based sister-city partnerships is mostly anecdotal," the paper went on to report.

Also, although some 560 U.S. cities belong to Sister Cities International, not one SCI member is in Rhode Island.

Newport officials and tourism leaders say the sister city arrangements have increased visitors to the City.

Here is a link to the story.