Tourism is key to economic health of area
Date: 10/4/2013
By G. Michael Dobbs
news@thereminder.comSPRINGFIELD – Speaker after speaker told the Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development the financial importance of tourism in the Pioneer Valley at a public hearing conducted at the Basketball Hall of Fame on Sept. 27.
Those attending the hearing included co-chairs state Rep Cory Atkins and state Sen. Kathleen O’ Connor Ives, state Reps. Michel Finn, Donald Humason Jr., Aaron Vega, Nicholas Boldyga and Steven Howitt.
Atkins said, in light of the arrival of casinos in the state, “This is a pivotal time.” She believes that casinos offer new resources to broaden and sustain tourism. Atkins explained that revenues from casinos should be used to protect local arts and attractions.
“Casino-goers might be fascinated by other options,” she said.
Atkins added that over the years tourism and the creative economy has proven to be more stable that the high-tech sector citing that “Digital and Wang [computer companies] came and went.”
Atkins said that tourism and third largest economic sector in the state accounting for more than 125,000 jobs.
She expects the state will see an increase next year in tourism with the Magna Carta coming to first the Boston Museum of Fine Arts and then the Sterling and Francine Clark Museum in Williamstown.
According to the Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism, the statewide revenue from tourism is $16.9 billion. In 2011, there were 21.3 million domestic visitors.
Betsy Wall, executive director of the office, told the committee that the only state with more tourism is Hawaii, which spends $82 million to promote, while the Commonwealth spends $13 million.
She said there has been an “explosion” of middle class people from China, Brazil and India coming to Massachusetts. The attraction she said was “equal parts history, culture and recreation.” Her office maintains six overseas offices to promote tourism here.
Holly Smith-Bové, president of the Springfield Museums, told the committee the museum complex has been working to add a new component: a Dr. Seuss museum. The licensing is in place with the Seuss estate, but now the museums are seeking funding. Polling indicated that 80 percent of the visitors to the Quadrangle would like to see a Seuss Museum.
She said the complex attracts 250,000 visitors a year with 25 to 30 of the visitors coming from outside of a 50-mile radius of the city.
Kay Simpson, vice president of the Springfield Museums, reported they are applying for a cultural district designation with the Massachusetts Cultural Council. The district would include much of downtown and would be a way to encourage the historical restoration of downtown buildings as well as build additional tourism.
There are 17 such districts and Simpson said, “We hope to the eighteenth.”
Mary Kay Wydra, president of the greater Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau, said $662 million is spent annually in the Pioneer Valley on tourism. Besides what she called “outstanding attractions,” the Pioneer Valley offers visitors easy access and affordable services.
She noted her organization has been working with casino developers and the Massachusetts Gaming Commission to “complement what we have.”
Michael Hurotwitz, chairman of the board for the Greater Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau and who owns Uno Chicago Grill next to the Hall of Fame told the committee there is a “circle of tourism” that visitors to attractions such as the Hall of Fame then spend money at hotels, restaurants, gas stations, among other businesses, which then in turns supports local jobs and other businesses.
