STATE GOVERNMENT :
Tourism board to governor: Don’t consolidate us
Sun, Jan 4, 2009 (2 a.m.)
Beyond the Sun
The state Tourism Commission didn’t like Gov. Jim Gibbons’ selection for director and now it’s criticizing his proposal to merge the tourism agency with one that promotes economic development.
“It will destroy an entity that has been successful for our economy,” says former Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt-Bono, a Tourism Commission member. “It’s not wise to make a structural change to solve a problem.”
Gibbons is considering merging the two agencies to save money and increase efficiency. They had been created as a single agency but separated in 1983.
Commissioners said they worried that if their tourism agency were combined with the state’s economic development agency, they would lose access to their slice of the state’s hotel-motel room tax in addition to facing the consequences of a shrinking general fund.
Steve Woodbury, chief deputy tourism director, told the commission its budget, which was cut by $3 million last year, may be slashed by another $7 million because of the state’s financial crisis. The additional cut would reduce the agency’s budget to $10 million, half what it had been.
The $7 million cut would force layoffs of about a third of the tourism office staff and dramatically reduce the agency’s participation in travel industry shows and other promotional events and advertising, Woodbury said. He said it would not only hurt efforts to promote state parks and museums, but also force the reduction or elimination of about 100 promotional programs.
Hunt-Bono said she was concerned the budget cuts would force the agency to close its office in China, which was launched with a $294,000 annual budget appropriation by the 2007 Legislature.
With casinos closing in Reno, Sparks and rural Nevada, “now is not the time to back off tourism,” said Commissioner Bruce Dewing of Lovelock.
Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki, chairman of the commission, said “I don’t see tremendous savings” in combining the two agencies.
The agency has reduced costs, turning to the Internet instead of television commercials to promote the region, said Jolyn Laney, deputy director of marketing and advertising.
Skiing in Northern Nevada and golf in Southern Nevada are being stressed in the Internet campaign, she said, and a promotion of Hoover Dam on the Internet has shown good results.
The commission will talk about the merger issue at its next meeting, in January, when it has the proposals of Gov. Gibbons to be outlined to the Legislature.
At last week’s meeting, the commission also refused to consider Kirk Montero, the friend of a close adviser of Gibbons, as the agency’s new director. The governor had named Montero as head of tourism without going through the procedure required by law of allowing the commission to nominate three people and selecting an appointee from the list.
Discussion: 1 comment so far…
Post a comment
Email Edition
- Most Read
- Discussed
- Most E-mailed
- Fourth fireworks light up valley sky
- Ensign’s pal lacked usual qualifications for job as senator’s senior aide
- Jay-Z lights up Las Vegas, lives life to the max
- Cousins attracting attention from college football recruiters
- Strip performer is eBay high bidder for Elvis ring
- Las Vegas to sizzle for the Fourth
- Swarm of crickets descends once again on Northern Nevada
- Henderson house fire displaces family of three
- Local conservative radio talk reflects right’s downcast state
- Day 2 of the World Series of Poker main event
Blogs
Elsewhere
Goalie chooses Mudbugs over Wranglers
The Bull's-Eye
Real drama follows Desert Classic victory by 'The Power' (UPDATED)
Elsewhere
Spike TV's 'UFC's Ultimate 100: Greatest Fights' airs tonight
The Kats Report
LV Phil 'Spectacular' at Springs Preserve was great -- for the music
Punchy Points: UFC 100
No. 6: The Ref: Dean relishes role, making right calls (1 Comment)
The Bull's-Eye
Canadian is first in Desert Classic's final four, Barney joins him (UPDATED) (2 Comments)
Sports: Upon Further Review
July 4 at Wimbledon
Calendar
- Blues Monday at the House of Blues (9 p.m. to 11 p.m.)
- Industry Night at XS (10 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.)
- The Automatic Tour at The Square Apple (5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.)
The Sun
Locally owned and independent for more than 50 years.
Technorati
During an April 2008 trip to Europe, I saw a lot of TV ads promoting Las Vegas. The result was that when I talked with people on the street about places they would like to visit in America, an overwhelming number said "Las Vegas." The city is one of the top 5 or so of places Europeans traditionally like to visit. I feel advertising overseas is a smart thing to do as a holiday in America is a bargain to euro-toting Europeans.
I am a tourism writer and consultant and was over there promoting small towns to European travel writers and along the way talked with the locals.