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Dubois County Tourism proposes $700,000 2026 budget after reporting $123.4M in 2023 visitor spending
Summary
Whitney Lubbers presented the 2023 Tourism Report Card showing $123.4 million in visitor spending and proposed a $700,000 2026 budget for the Dubois County Tourism Commission, citing Innkeeper Tax growth and goals for motorcoach travel and promotional distribution.
Whitney Lubbers, executive director of the Dubois County Tourism Commission, told the council on July 28 that visitors spent $123.4 million in the county in 2023 and outlined the commission’s priorities heading into 2026.
Lubbers reviewed key metrics from the 2023 Tourism Report Card: tourism sales per capita of $2,832.67, a county ranking of 25 out of 92 for total visitor spending, and 5.6% tourism spending growth in 2023. She noted the Commission is funded by the county’s Innkeeper Tax and cited recent growth in that tax: an 18.3% increase in 2022, 2.9% in 2023 and 8.1% in 2024.
For 2025 priorities, Lubbers said the commission aims to expand motorcoach/group travel, produce and distribute 60,000 visitor guides and issue at least 24 press releases. She also highlighted that DC Multisport has surpassed $330,000 in milestone funding or revenue (as reported to the commission).
Lubbers presented a proposed 2026 budget of $700,000. The council received the presentation and budget materials for review; no formal appropriation vote on the Tourism Commission’s 2026 budget was recorded at the July 28 meeting.
