New Haven Register (Sunday) (New Haven, CT)
Tourism panel revolts against ‘Still Revolutionary’
The “Still Revolutionary” slogan might need to go.
That was one of the recommendations of the Blue Ribbon Panel on Tourism, after 15 members spent five months on a listening tour, gathering recommendations around the state.
“The Connecticut tourism sector is strong, but we need to recommit to our investment and retool our marketing efforts to attract more visitors to our beautiful state,” Speaker of the House Joe Aresimowicz, D-Berlin, who oversaw the panel.
“Tourism should not be simply viewed as a cost but as an investment in our economy that creates jobs and helps pay for the programs and services vital to all our residents.”
The panel, comprised of business executives, tribal leaders, museum heads and state officials, presented its recommendations to the legislative Commerce Committee during a public hearing on Tuesday.
The group recommended reopening and staffing Connecticut’s welcome centers, creating a council to work with the Office of Tourism on reinvestment, easing Department of Transportation restrictions on highway signage and increasing the amount of lodging tax revenue dedicated to tourism from 10 percent to 25 percent.
The panel suggested a fresh look at the state’s tourism marketing strategy, including the slogan. A final decision on a “next generation” strategy should be made after performance research by marketing and tourism experts, the panel’s report said.
Tourism in Connecticut is a $14.7 billion industry, directly supporting almost 83,000 jobs and producing $1.7 billion in total tax revenue, according to the state Department of Economic and Community Development.