NewHavenBIZ

n e w h a v e n b i z . c o m | M a y / J u n e 2 0 1 9 | n e w h a v e n B I Z 37 By Michelle Tuccitto Sullo W hen tourists visit the New Haven region, they have many fun choices for entertainment, whether it is a day at the beach or art museum, island cruise, or visit to a vineyard or brewery. And companies that cater to tourists reap the rewards. State- wide, tourism is a $14.7 billion industry, and it generates some 83,000 jobs at tourist destinations, shops and restaurants, according to the state Department of Econom- ic & Community Development's Office of Tourism. e question is: Is enough being done to attract tourists and let them know exactly what greater New Haven and Connecticut have to offer? Speaker of the House Joe Aresi- mowicz (D-30) formed a Blue Rib- bon Panel on Tourism to study this question last fall. Its conclusion? e state could be doing much more to market itself. If it did, area companies would reap more dollars from more tourists electing to vaca- tion and spend money here. "e Connecticut tourism sector is strong, but we need to recommit to our investment and retool our marketing efforts to attract more visitors to our beautiful state," Aresimowicz said. David Skelly, director of New Haven's Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History, served on the panel, which included tourism in- dustry representatives from around the state. "It was pretty much clear to everyone that the state went from really investing in tourism to not doing it in a way that makes sense," Skelly says. "Advertising dollars make a huge difference and help people see what the state has to offer. ere are targets we are not reaching." Skelly notes how the state's spending for tourism marketing has declined precipitously in recent years. e annual budget stood at $15 million in 2012, and dropped to $4 million in 2018, as state lead- ers sought to cut costs. Stephen Tagliatela, president of the Connecticut Tourism Coalition and managing partner at Saybrook Point Inn, Spa & Marina in Old Saybrook, also served on the panel. Continued on Page 38 'We are getting beat every day by our neighboring states,' says Stephen Tagliatela, owner of Saybrook Point Inn (pictured), 'because they understand the importance of tourism marketing.' Life's a beach: Hammonasset Beach State Park in Madison is one of the region's and state's most popular destinations. PHOTO/FRANK GILROY PHOTO/MICHELLE TUCCITTO SULLO F O C U S | T o u r i s m 'We need to get in the game' New Haven and Connecticut look to revolutionize tourism efforts

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