Measuring the Economic Benefits of Tourism

John A. Kelley III, CHIA | July 14, 2016

by John A. Kelley, III Some state fiscal budgets have been heavily scrutinized over the past decade due to considerable deficits, forcing the state legislatures to reduce spending in areas that are considered more or less discretionary. While each state has its own funding model for tourism spending, many states and municipalities levy occupancy, admission or other tourism-related taxes on the sale of products and services to fund tourism budgets. Taxes from the state's general fund are not always the main source of revenue for its tourism budget. Rather, tourism tax revenues are sometimes redirected into the state's general fund, which...