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Hanson Commission Tourism Report Details Reorganization of NJSEA to Strengthen and Maximize Tourism Promotion in the Garden State

 

TRENTON, NJ 鈥� 吃瓜黑料鈥檚 tourism industry is on the rebound with tourists spending $38 billion on their visits to the Garden State in 2011, according to figures released today at the 吃瓜黑料 Conference on Tourism. The new visitor expenditures are just shy of the all-time high of $39.5 billion reached in 2007 and are a 7 percent increase over 2010 figures, further indicating that the 吃瓜黑料 Comeback is taking hold in vital sectors of the state economy.

“This report is great economic news for 吃瓜黑料 and another indication that the 吃瓜黑料 Comeback has begun,” said Governor Chris Christie. “These results give us a solid foundation to build upon as we move forward with a common sense and comprehensive plan to strengthen our tourism promotion activities. Along with our efforts to revitalize and invest in Atlantic City, the steps we have taken will have a positive and lasting impact on economic growth for 吃瓜黑料 over the long run.”

In 2011, domestic visits to 吃瓜黑料 jumped 14.6 percent, representing an increase in domestic trip volume from roughly 68 million visitors in 2010 to 80 million visitors in 2011. Out-of-state visitors, which drive 吃瓜黑料 tourism revenue, accounted for 64 percent of all tourism revenue, followed by resident/in-state (25 percent), and international visitors (9 percent).

Equally important, tourism-related employment began to recover in 2011, directly supporting 312,000 jobs and $9.56 billion in wages and salaries last year. When combined with indirect and induced jobs, the total climbs to 486,000, or nearly 10 percent of all 吃瓜黑料 jobs.

“Tourism is a critical economic engine for 吃瓜黑料,” said Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno. “It is an industry that continues to contribute significantly to the health of our communities by creating jobs and tax revenue. Clearly, 2011 was a good year for 吃瓜黑料's tourism industry. By working together, we can build on last year鈥檚 success and strengthen our reputation as a premier travel destination.”

Strengthening 吃瓜黑料鈥檚 Tourism Efforts with a New Role for the 吃瓜黑料 Sports and Exposition Authority

Governor Christie today also endorsed the recommendations of the 吃瓜黑料 Gaming, Sports and Entertainment Advisory Commission to strengthen the state鈥檚 tourism promotion efforts. The recommendations, detailed in a report released today, outlined a series of common sense and aggressive reforms to streamline and centralize the state鈥檚 patchwork of entities responsible for tourism promotion and advance and better promote 吃瓜黑料鈥檚 tourism industry.

The report calls for a reinvigorated and consolidated structure of all current government tourism promotion activities or operations under a realigned 吃瓜黑料 Sports and Exposition Authority (NJSEA) dedicated to advancing 吃瓜黑料 tourism, entertainment and sports. These recommendations acknowledge the significance of this industry to 吃瓜黑料鈥檚 economy by elevating the promotion of travel and tourism to a similar level of importance as other economic development efforts initiated by the Christie Administration, such as drawing businesses to 吃瓜黑料 and retaining those that are already here.

“Today, our ability to effectively promote 吃瓜黑料 as the premier tourism destination it is remains held back by a scattered and sprawling patchwork of programs and activities inside and outside of state government,” said Governor Christie. “By consolidating these operations under the umbrella of the NJSEA, we are taking an aggressive and common sense approach that recognizes and prioritizes the important role of tourism promotion in our economy. Not only will this model mirror successes seen in other states and New York City, it will streamline and simplify tourism entities for visitors, save money for taxpayers, and provide a foundation to strengthen the tourism industry in a strategic and long-term way.”

The report, “Elements of a Plan for the Creation of a Structure to Better Promote Tourism in the State of 吃瓜黑料,” builds on the reorganization plan outlined by Governor Christie in his Fiscal Year 2013 Budget proposal to better coordinate efforts to promote 吃瓜黑料 as a tourism destination.

The Christie Administration has placed a strong focus on economic development and job creation in the state, improving marketing and outreach efforts to attract businesses to 吃瓜黑料, while also successfully attracting premier sports and entertainment events to the state. Under the Christie Administration, 吃瓜黑料 has successfully pursued and secured itself as the host of Grand Prix Auto Racing, WWE鈥檚 WrestleMania, the U.S. Special Olympics and the Super Bowl 鈥� all in the next 24 months.

Going further with these efforts, the NJSEA will operate statewide as the lead agency to facilitate and attract major sports and entertainment events, overcoming the challenges posed by a disjointed organization structure for the state鈥檚 tourism-related activities. Its main focus will no longer be on building venues or facility management, but on coordinating economic development and promotional efforts related to tourism, entertainment and sports.

The new NJSEA will be relocated from the Department of Community Affairs to the Department of State, where it will work in close collaboration with the Business Action Center and the Office of Foreign Investment and Protocol. Also proposed is the relocation of the Division of Travel and Tourism and the 吃瓜黑料 Motion Picture and Television Commission to the NJSEA.

The Advisory Commission鈥檚 Key Recommendations are as follows:

• 吃瓜黑料 Should Create A Structure Dedicated To Advancing 吃瓜黑料 Tourism Statewide And Serves As Part Of An Overall Economic Development And Job Creation Plan For The State.
• The tourism structure should be housed in the Department of State, under the leadership of the Lt. Governor, to operate alongside 吃瓜黑料鈥檚 other substantial economic development and growth efforts.
• The tourism structure should work closely with, and in some cases be integrated with, the work of agencies within the Department of State dedicated to advancing the economic development plan. These would include The Partnership for Action and The Business Action Center.

• Current Government Activities And Operations Related To Tourism Should Be Consolidated Under The Umbrella Of The 吃瓜黑料 Sports And Exposition Authority (NJSEA).
• The NJSEA should be given oversight responsibility for all other state agencies related to tourism. These would include the Division of Travel and Tourism and the Motion Picture and Television Commission.
• NJSEA should be relocated from “in but not of” the Department of Community Affairs to “in but not of” the Department of State.
• To properly relate the NJSEA to the Department of State, the Lt. Governor, in her role as Secretary of State, should serve on the NJSEA Board of Directors

• In Its Role As Lead Agency For Marketing 吃瓜黑料 Tourism, The NJSEA Should Conduct A Comprehensive Audit Of Assets Existing In The State Than Can Contribute To Promoting Tourism.
• This audit should include an assessment of the relationship among the state鈥檚 assets in terms of proximity, interrelated interest and accessibility by way of both public and private transportation.

• The NJSEA Should Establish A Formal Relationship With Other Independent Government Operations With A Tourism Mission, Including The 吃瓜黑料 Hall Of Fame.
• The relationship between the NJSEA and the 吃瓜黑料 Hall of Fame should initially take the form of the Hall of Fame serving in an advisory capacity to the NJSEA, with the understanding that the Hall of Fame will provide advice, support, and cooperation in the state鈥檚 tourist marketing efforts.
• NJSEA should also make a vigorous effort to establish collaboration among private tourist marketing operations and between those operations and the NJSEA, through conversations with leaders of such operations as well as stakeholders associated with such operations.
• NJSEA should promote the image of “one鈥恠top shopping” for those seeking tourist information and assistance or wishing to host an event.

• NJSEA Should Identify Of The Stakeholders With An Interest In 吃瓜黑料 Tourism With The Aim Of Both Consolidating Event Planning And Establishing Sources Of Revenue To Support Its Work.