The U.S. Travel Association and Visit Florida have data to show what happens when state’s top promoting tourism.
Pennsylvania cut its state tourism marketing budget from $30 million to $7 million in 2009. Every dollar cut cost the state $3.60 in lost tax revenue. From 2009 to 2014, Pennsylvania lost over $600 million in tax revenue.
The state of Washington completely quit marketing to tourists in 2011, cutting its $7-million budget to zero. Meanwhile, Montana saw its traveler spending grow 70-percent faster than in Washington.
In 1993, Colorado cut out its state tourism marketing budget, $12 million. The state lost $1.4 billion of traveler spending in one year.
Meanwhile, California, Michigan, New Mexico, and Florida increased their travel promotions from 2010-2015.
California increased its budget $50.1 million and saw travel spending increase $32.4 billion.
Michigan increased its budget $10.5 million and saw travel spending increase $3.5 billion.
New Mexico increased its budget $4.6 million and saw travel spending increase $933 million.
Florida increased its budget $43.3 million and saw travel spending increase $30 billion.
Just a two-percent decrease in the Visit Florida would result in $2.2 billion loss in travel spending, $225 million in tax revenue, and 28,800 Florida jobs.