A fascinating discussion has developed around tourism and it’s funding. It was all started with a proposal in a Brookings Institution study for GrowSmart Maine that suggested that a fund be developed to purchase more public land by increasing the tax on lodging to 10%.
I just noticed that I was quoted over on the Maine Web Report Lance Dutson has been very critical of the Maine Office of Tourism and their handling of the state internet marketing. Unfortunately I am not certain that it is just the state if our visitors are using the internet less than the national norm. Maybe they do not expect us to be connected. I did have clients this summer that were suprised at my web capability.
I am thinking about what it means to have Maine tourism lag the rest of the nation in travelers using the internet to learn about visiting. Down from five years ago when we were at the national norm. The state has spent a significant amount on web marketing and almost every business has as well.
