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Tourism Jumps Five Percent in Packer Country
Travelers Spent $646 Million
GREEN BAY, Wis.
May 3, 2005
GREEN BAY, Wis. (May 3, 2005) –
A recently released survey shows Packer
Country tourism expenditures increased by
five percent in 2004, with travelers to
the area spending more than $646 million.
The Packer Country Visitor and Convention
Bureau today announced the results of latest
tourism trends its annual tourism luncheon
at the Howard Johnson Inn and Conference
Center, 2580 S. Ashland Street.
Travelers to the three-county region of
Brown, Kewaunee, and Manitowoc spent $646
million annually on shopping, lodging, recreation,
food, and transportation, making tourism
among the top three industries in the area.
“Certainly the $295 million renovation
to Lambeau Field has had a very positive
impact on tourism,” said Kari Sliva,
President and CEO of the Packer Country
Visitor and Convention Bureau. “In
addition the Green Bay area is a regional
hub for headline entertainment at the Veterans
Memorial Complex, Weidner Center and Oneida
Bingo and Casino. Thirdly, we’ve seen
an increase in convention and meeting business
at the KI Convention Center and other conference
locations, and that heavily impacts our
shoulder seasons in Spring and Fall,”
Sliva said.
The tourism industry employs 15,395 full
time workers in the region, with those hospitality
employees earning $322 million.
Government benefited tremendously from tourism
expenditures, with $64 million going to
state coffers, and $27 million in revenue
for local governments.
Summer proved once again to be the season
in which travelers spent the most money,
leaving $217 million behind. That represented
34% of all seasonal travel spending. Fall
(28%) was the second strongest season, followed
by Spring (20%) and Winter (18%).
The majority of overnight travelers were
here for pleasure/leisure (41%), and 38%
visited the region while on a business trip.
An estimated 21% were here for a meeting
or convention.
“This is an increase of three percent
in convention business since 2001 and demonstrates
we are a leading destination for state and
regional conventions,” Sliva said.
“Businesses and associations know
they can have serious meetings to conduct
business and also relax and have fun while
they are in the Green Bay area. And let’s
not forget that convention delegates tend
to spend more money and stay longer in the
area.”
While the majority of overnight travelers
to the region were from Wisconsin (56%),
the number of out-of-state visitors increased
by three percent since 2001. Of those visiting
from out-of-state, two percent originated
in Canada, and one percent were from other
countries.
Travel expenditure statistics in Wisconsin
are compiled by Davidson-Peterson Associates
of Kennebunk, Maine.
Local room tax collections also mirror the
statistics released by Davidson-Peterson,
with total collections in 2004 up 10.6%,
totaling $3.6 million.
The Packer Country Tourism Luncheon kicked
off See America Week (formerly National
Tourism Week) May 7-14.
For more official tourism information on
the Green Bay Area and Lakeshore communities,
visit www.packercountry.com.
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Packer Country Visitor & Convention Bureau is the regional destination marketing organization committed to improving the visitor experience and increasing the economic impact of tourism to its communities. For more information call 888-867-3342 or visit us online at www.packercountry.com.
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