Travel Board to Hold Kanab Meeting

Public Input Sought on Economic Stimulus Plan

Salt Lake City -- The Board of Travel Development, also known as the Utah Travel Council, will meet in Kanab on Friday, August 22, 2003, for a combination board meeting and community hearing.

The meeting runs from 9 a.m. - noon at the Kane County Commission Chambers, 76 North Main, Kanab.

The board and community will discuss proposed legislation that would establish a dedicated funding source for the Division of Travel Development.

“Despite a steady increase in visitor spending and worldwide media exposure during the 2002 Olympic Winter Games, Utah continues to lose market share and the division’s advertising budget has fallen to its lowest level in the past 15 years,” says board chairman Randy Harmsen.

“This is a great opportunity for tourism entities and residents in southern Utah to sound off on the economic stimulus plan,” says Dean Reeder, director of the Utah Travel Council. “We got some great input on the proposed legislation at our June meeting in Vernal and we want to hear from everyone interested in the tourism industry in Utah.” Those wishing to comment on the legislation do not need to sign up in advance to speak.

There is general agreement that the Utah Travel Council’s $3.8 million general fund budget is inadequate. Economists and marketing experts have suggested that it will take $20 million in branding efforts to reverse Utah’s market share slide. The proposed legislation would raise that amount in the next 10 years through a dedicated state tourism tax.

One other community meeting will be held in conjunction with the Tourism Summit scheduled for September 24 in Cedar City. Comments on the economic stimulus package will also be accepted online at http://travel.utah.gov/fundinitiative.html. The community meeting in Kanab coincides with the Western Legends Round-Up, a celebration of “old West” culture.

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