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House grants one-year exception to tourism growth requirement, keeps $200,000 for promotion
Summary
Lawmakers approved a second substitute to HB 34 granting a one-year exception to the tourism performance marketing fund’s 4% growth requirement and preserving a $200,000 appropriation to support tourism promotion amid a post‑9/11 downturn, while debate centered on precedent and tracking effectiveness.
The House debated and approved a second substitute to House Bill 34 that creates a one‑year exception to the tourism performance marketing fund's usual 4% growth requirement and keeps a $200,000 appropriation for tourism promotion. Sponsors argued the tourism industry took a large hit after the September 11 attacks and that marketing funds are needed now to sustain inbound tourism; opponents warned the exception could set an unwanted precedent for future waivers of performance conditions.
Representative Young and Representative Allen described how the tourism performance marketing fund is administered by a broadly constituted committee representing counties, the industry and state parks; the sponsor said the funds support marketing buys timed around the upcoming Olympics and other campaigns. Members also discussed measurement and oversight: while advertising effectiveness can be tracked through inquiries and web hits, it is difficult to trace the behavior of individual consumers from ad to travel decision. The floor adopted the second substitute and the bill passed its floor consideration.
