The State of Ohio is working with the Ohio Tourism Industry to create a "public/private funding model" for a future Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) for the state. The traditional general revenue fund model for the Ohio Tourism Division will end June 30, 2010.
Ohio Tourism Works is a collaborative effort by the Ohio Tourism Roundtable, which represents leadership from the Ohio Association of Convention & Visitors Bureaus, the Ohio Hotel & Lodging Association, the Ohio Travel Association and the Ohio Restaurant Association, as well as communication professionals within the Ohio tourism industry.
The goal of this effort is to create awareness for the need of a state tourism office and to reinforce that tourism is a revenue generator for Ohio.
Ohio Tourism Division gets funding for another year
State office was about to run out of money at end of fiscal year
Wednesday, June 23, 2010 11:56 AM
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
The Ohio Tourism Division, which was about to see its funding dry up as the state fiscal year nears its end, has been given another one-year funding reprieve.
Tourism director Amir Eylon said today that the division will receive $5.4 million from the Ohio Department of Development's discretionary fund for marketing and economic development for fiscal year 2011, which begins July 1. That's up from $5.1 million in the current 2010 fiscal year.
The division's funding was completely eliminated from the state budget last year, as lawmakers made deep cuts to try to shore up a $3.2 billion funding gap.
Industry leaders from the Ohio Tourism Roundtable have been working with development officials to come up with a permanent funding model, but have not yet been able to come to an agreement.
The interim funding means the division will be able to continue operating with its slightly smaller staff in the coming year; plan for a spring/summer media campaign similar to the $1.5 million effort it's currently running; and continue to support local convention and visitors bureaus with services such as a call center and fulfillment of brochure requests.
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