Hey there, folks. Governor Evers here!
This week, we’re continuing to celebrate with National Travel and Tourism Week.
Each year, the travel and tourism industry helps bring billions of dollars in revenue for local businesses and our statewide economy.
This included a record-breaking $25 billion in 2023 and supporting more than 175,000 jobs.
But these numbers don’t happen by chance. They happen because of the hardworking people in the industry whose efforts make sure visitors come back year after year.
We’ve been proud to help support that work by making smart, strategic investments over the last several years to support Wisconsin’s tourism industry.
And we’re working to build on our success. My budget makes needed investments to ensure our state’s tourism industry continues to grow and thrive.
My budget works to promote Wisconsin as a premier business, cultural, and recreational destination by directing nearly $34 million in funding for the Department of Tourism.
Additionally, outdoor recreation in Wisconsin is a more than $11 billion industry in our state, so I’m also again proposing to make the Wisconsin Office of Outdoor Recreation a permanent hub for our outdoor partners, brands, and the industry.
Finally, my budget invests in the arts and provides incentives to bring more film productions, TV shows, and creative endeavors to Wisconsin’s doorstep.
This includes creating an Office of Film and Creative Industries to support annual film tax credits that will drive economic growth in Wisconsin’s film and creative sectors.
Folks, the proof is in the pudding, tourism is an economic engine for Wisconsin—plain and simple.
But it’s the hard work of Travel Wisconsin, local partners, and hardworking business owners and hospitality workers across this state that keeps this industry humming.
So, this week, we celebrate with them and look forward to another incredible year for Wisconsin’s travel and tourism industry.
Thank you.
