MONROE - A new study on the impact of tourism in Wisconsin shows that visitor spending in Green County rose from $31 million in 2010 to $35.5 million in 2011 - an increase of 14.5 percent.
Statewide visitor spending in 2011 was up by $16 billion, an increase of 8 percent over the previous year.
"Travelers need to be invited, and someone needs to send the invitations," Green County Tourism Director Noreen Rueckert said in a news release. "These numbers provide confirmation that our marketing efforts are paying off."
Green County Tourism often partners with local chambers of commerce in developing cooperative advertising to promote the entire area as a destination.
In the absence of the state and local taxes generated by tourism, each Wisconsin household would need to pay an additional $565 to maintain the current level of government services. Last year's advertising campaign by the Wisconsin Department of Tourism generated a 6-to-1 return on investment.
"For every one dollar we spent on advertising, the state received $6 in tax revenues," Tourism Secretary Stephanie Klett said. "Tourism marketing does work."
Green County is currently involved in a county-wide destination branding initiative, funded in part by a Joint Effort Marketing (JEM) grant through the Wisconsin Department of Tourism, along with financial support from Green County Tourism, Green County Development Corporation, Monroe Visitor and Promotion Fund, New Glarus Chamber and Colony Brands.
By completing the initial "research phase" of this 3-year project, Green County is eligible to apply for additional marketing grants of nearly $30,000 to enhance the tourism marketing budget over the next two years.
"We are positioning Green County to make better-informed marketing decisions for both tourism and economic development," said Rueckert, "and we'll be developing a campaign that defines our brand and projects a message that resonates."
The Wisconsin Department of Tourism worked with national research firm Longwoods International and Tourism Economics to produce the impact reports.
Statewide visitor spending in 2011 was up by $16 billion, an increase of 8 percent over the previous year.
"Travelers need to be invited, and someone needs to send the invitations," Green County Tourism Director Noreen Rueckert said in a news release. "These numbers provide confirmation that our marketing efforts are paying off."
Green County Tourism often partners with local chambers of commerce in developing cooperative advertising to promote the entire area as a destination.
In the absence of the state and local taxes generated by tourism, each Wisconsin household would need to pay an additional $565 to maintain the current level of government services. Last year's advertising campaign by the Wisconsin Department of Tourism generated a 6-to-1 return on investment.
"For every one dollar we spent on advertising, the state received $6 in tax revenues," Tourism Secretary Stephanie Klett said. "Tourism marketing does work."
Green County is currently involved in a county-wide destination branding initiative, funded in part by a Joint Effort Marketing (JEM) grant through the Wisconsin Department of Tourism, along with financial support from Green County Tourism, Green County Development Corporation, Monroe Visitor and Promotion Fund, New Glarus Chamber and Colony Brands.
By completing the initial "research phase" of this 3-year project, Green County is eligible to apply for additional marketing grants of nearly $30,000 to enhance the tourism marketing budget over the next two years.
"We are positioning Green County to make better-informed marketing decisions for both tourism and economic development," said Rueckert, "and we'll be developing a campaign that defines our brand and projects a message that resonates."
The Wisconsin Department of Tourism worked with national research firm Longwoods International and Tourism Economics to produce the impact reports.