HYANNIS – The Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce will receive a portion of a $7.5 million investment in tourism funding, pending approval by Governor Deval Patrick.
If the governor approves the amount, it sill be level funding from last year.
The state Senate and House sent the Governor a $36.5 billion state budget .
The tourism funds will be allocated amongst the Commonwealth’s 16 tourism regions.
Every year the regional tourism councils band together with the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism to put a pitch in for adequate funding for tourism marketing.
Tourism is the state’s third largest industry, according to Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce CEO Wendy Northcross. “It benefits every corner of Massachusetts. It’s a great job creator,” she said.
The senate’s $7.5 million budget for tourism did not match the house version, which was $6 million. In conference committee, the two sides came together on the $7.5 million.
In order to figure out Cape Cod’s portion of that, the Office of Travel and Tourism applies a formula based on the strength of a region’s marketing plan, how much in room tax receipts were sent to Boston, and other factors.
Northcross’s office manages a Destination Marketing campaign for Cape Cod. “That really will drive business for next fall and summer,” she said.
The money must be used for travel to Cape Cod at least 50 miles away, she said.
