State tourism in ’09 off by $1 billion

Which, of course, translates into a decrease in the amount of tax revenue generated.

Travel Wisconsin

Link to May 9 Wisconsin State Journal article.

Excerpt: The annual tourism study, conducted by Davidson-Peterson Associates of Kennebunk, Maine, found each of Wisconsin’s 72 counties had declines in tourism spending. Thirteen of those counties had double-digit percentage decreases, with Sheboygan County leading the list at 16.7 percent.

However, the state, where tourism is one of the leading industries along with manufacturing and agriculture, fared better than the 9 percent average drop nationally, according to the U.S. Travel Association.

Tourism in Wisconsin generated $12.1 billion in revenue in 2009, down 7.8% in 2008.

Percentage drop by selected counties/municipality

• Brown (-12.3%)
• Dane (-4.6%)
• Door (-11.0%)
• Milwaukee (-11.2%)
• Sheboygan (-16.7%)
• Walworth (-11.1%)
• Wisconsin Dells (-3.8%)