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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) – Several state agencies are chasing after dollars to fund their 2012-2013 budgets. Gov. Bill Haslam sat in on hearings Tuesday for Education, Agriculture and Tourism, which is having a bigger impact on the state’s bottom line.
BP Oil spent millions in an advertising campaign for the Gulf Coast calling tourists back to that area after the devastating oil spill. Tennessee tourism officials told the governor that campaign was a success.
“They blanketed our markets, Atlanta, all of the feeder markets that come through East Tennessee,” said Susan Whitaker, Commissioner of Tourism Development.
During the hearings, Whitaker said the state enjoyed some $14 billion in tourism dollars for 2010 – up 6.3 percent from 2009. but this year – so far – there’s been a drop. Whitker thinks it may be because more people headed to the Gulf at the urging of those BP-sponsored commercials.
“I think that had an impact on the area,” Whitaker said. “It’s also one of those things that shows that advertising works.”
Still, Whitaker said, tourism is Tennessee’s second largest industry – something that has the Governor’s attention.
Haslam says from Memphis with Elvis to East Tennessee with the great Smoky Mountains, tourism is essential to the state’s economy and thinks it can grow – if the state has a budget for the right advertising.
“Not just through the country but across the world, tennessee has some dominant issues,” Haslam said. “I do think we can capitalize on it. One of reasons we need to have those advertising dollars in there is I think we have people attracted to Tennessee. Once we attract them how do we get them to stay an extra two days.”
Tourism advocates say it’s a challenge and each region has to capitalize on its strengths – especially in a recovering economy.
“One of the big things we do is promote to our local residents everything that we have going on in our city so if folks don’t have the means to travel or economy is affecting them there are a lot of things to do in our city and our entire region,” said Kim Davis, with Knoxville Tourism & Sports Corporation.
The Tourist Department currently is promoting “Discover Tennessee,” which features 16 trails to wineries, scenic spots and more. It’s also celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Civil War. the department hopes both campaigns will generate interest and income.
Also talked about at the budget hearings Tuesday, the Taft Youth Development Center near Pikeville.
DCS Commissioner Kathryn O’Day said her agency would close the center under Haslam’s call for each department to prepare 5 percent reductions in spending.
O’Day noted that a new state prison opening in Bledsoe County could provide job opportunities for Taft workers if the facility closes.
The proposal was opposed by area lawmakers, including Republican Reps. Cameron Sexton of Crossville and Jim Cobb of Spring City, Democratic Rep. Bill Harmon of Dunlap and Democratic Sens. Eric Stewart of Winchester and Charlotte Burks of Monterey.
<a href="http://www.volunteertv.com/news/headlines/Haslam_wants_tourist_bucks_to_stop_here_134356353.html?ref=353tag:news.google.com,2005:cluster=http://www.volunteertv.com/news/headlines/Haslam_wants_tourist_bucks_to_stop_here_134356353.html?ref=353Tue, 22 Nov 2011 22:54:41 GMT”>Haslam sees tourism as huge chunk of state’s bottom line