Budget-slashing in the governor\u2019s economic development office is calling for a sweeping reduction of Colorado\u2019s tourism and marketing budget.<\/p>\n
The Joint Budget Committee is weighing an 87% cut<\/a> to the $18.5 million Colorado Tourism Office budget as gambling revenue evaporates under COVID-19 closures<\/a>. Nearly $15 million of the state\u2019s tourism promotion fund comes from gambling taxes.<\/p>\n The last time the state cut tourism promotion so drastically \u2014 to zero from $12 million in 1993 \u2014 the state\u2019s largest-in-the-nation share of U.S. tourists dropped to 17th place and cost Colorado $2 billion in lost revenue a year until tourism marketing was revived in 2000.<\/p>\n The recommendation for a one-year cut in tourism funding comes as the JBC looks for ways to cut an estimated $3 billion from next year\u2019s budget<\/a>. On Wednesday the committee cut the state\u2019s film incentive program by 80% and eliminated the Advanced Industries grant program for the coming year. <\/p>\n The proposal from the committee\u2019s staff would allow the Colorado Tourism Office to retain its 15 full-time employees, but cut all contracted marketing, advertising and tourism promotion. <\/p>\n Read the rest of the story at The Colorado Sun<\/a>.<\/p>\n