Tourism bosses campaign for budget-cut reversal

Tourism bosses in Massachusetts are calling for a reversal of cuts to budgets, claiming travel to the region will suffer if they go ahead.

They say cuts by Governor Charlie Baker will result in job losses and will affect the local economy.

Baker has cut more than $8.3 million from the state Office of Travel and Tourism, reducing its funding to $659,666, in order to plug a budget gap of $256 million.

He has defended the cuts, arguing that the travel and tourism budget was flush with spending that had little to do with tourism, according to a report in the Eagle-Tribune, which states tourism officials fear the cuts ‘will devastate 16 regional tourism councils’.

"We understand that the state is facing a budget deficit and that many things are going to suffer, but tourism is an investment that generates money," said Ann Marie Casey, executive director of the North of Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau.

"Without the state’s funding, it would be nearly impossible to continue doing what we do," the Eagle-Tribune reports.

Casey added she faces the prospect of laying off staff and shutting down some of the dozen visitor centers scattered across the region.

"States like New York and California are investing heavily in tourism," she said, "because if you don’t invite people, they won’t come." 

Tourism is the third-largest industry in Massachusetts, generating more than $1.2 billion in state and local taxes and $19.5 billion in travel-related expenses, according to the state tourism office. It supports 132,000 jobs.