Increasing Traveler Spending in OhioAvoid earmarks to the TourismOhio budget, which would limit the availability of dollars for the state to effectively generate added sales revenue through promoting travel. • Withacapof$10millionplusCPIonthenew

funding model generated from the increase in sales tax revenue attributed to travel-related spending in Ohio, TourismOhio’sbudgetisstillbelowthe$27.2millionaverage of state tourism budgets in our competitive set; we need to protect TourismOhio’s ability to effectively launch a new state brand.

Support the business-approach to marketing tourism adopted by the Office of TourismOhio, as establishing goals and benchmarking progress is moving in the right direction.• Maximizetheuseofresourcesavailablethroughthenewfundingmodel(withacapof$10millionplusCPI)to support TourismOhio’s efforts to launch a new brand for the State of Ohio.

• Deploymarketingandadvertisingeffortsasearlyaspossible to avoid losing market share and to meet TourismOhio’s strategic goals.

Support the intent of local lodging taxes by ensuring that the money collected and remitted by lodging

establishments is used to attract visitors and enhance the local economy.• Overnighttravelersspendmorethanthreetimesmoremoneythansingledaytrippers($335vs.$110).This includes money spent in Ohio’s economy in restaurants, attractions, retailers, hotels and all other travel purchases.

Supporting Growth of Travel-Related BusinessesEnsure sales tax policies are business-friendly and do not inhibitvisitorspendinginOhiocommunities.Weareinopposition to the following tax increases and expansions: • Increasingstatesalestax,locallodgingtaxesand

admissions fees.• Expandingthestatesalestaxbasetotravelagents,

public relations and advertising, debt collection and parking.

•ThesewouldincreasethecostofdoingbusinessforOhio’s tourism businesses.

Explore eligibility expansion of workforce development programstoOhio’s$38billiontourismandhospitalityindustry.

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Ohio Tourism Legislative DayTravel to experience all that Ohio offers drives the economy and fuels tax revenue.

In 2013, $30 billion in traveler spending at Ohio’s hotels, museums, attractions, wineries, craft breweries and other businesses generated an additional $8 billion as these businesses added

sales for countless other industries, such as financial services, manufacturing, real estate, etc.

This spending supported 405,000 jobs, or 8.9% of all jobs in the state, and generated $5.8 billion in local, state and federal taxes. Without these travel-related

taxes, each household in Ohio would be taxed an additional $650 per year.

Ohio Tourism Works.

• TravelerspendinginOhiosupports405,000jobs,approximately8.9%ofallOhiojobs.

• Tourismemploymentgrew2.5%in2013,morethantwo times faster than the overall Ohio employment rate.

• Morethanhalfofalltourismjobsearnmiddle-incomewages.

• TourismjobsalsohelpOhioansclimbcareerladders,as those who start their careers in the tourism industry end up making more money than those who start in any other industry, other than financial services.

• Nearly1/3ofallworkerswhoareemployedpart-timewhile furthering their education are employed in tourism-relatedjobs.

Creating Exceptional Ohio ExperiencesSupportincreasingABV(alcoholbyvolume)ofcraftbeer produced in Ohio to increase the competitiveness ofstatecraftbreweries.• Michigan,Pennsylvania,Indiana,andKentuckydo

not have any ABV limits.•ThenumberofcraftbreweriesinOhiohasdoubledoverthepast3years.Therewere58craftbreweriesin2012.Therearenow117andanother50+areintheplanning stages.

• Ohioranks4thnationwideincraftbeerproduction•TheOhiocraftbrewingindustrysupportsmorethan10,000jobsandcontributesmorethan$1billiontothe US economy.

MaintainOhioGeneralAssembly’ssupportofthejob-creating state historic rehabilitation tax credit program administeredbytheOhioDevelopmentServicesAgencyandtheStateHistoricPreservationOffice.•Therehabilitationofhistoricbuildingsandspending

generated by travelers to historic sites and museums bring big economic development benefits to Ohioans and their communities.

• Federalandstatehistoricrehabilitationtaxcreditshave preserved hundreds of historic and iconic buildings–nearly$3billioninprivateinvestment.

RestorestatefundingtotheOhioHistoryConnectionbudgetto$12millionannuallytobetterserveOhiofamilies,teachersandheritagetourists(fundinginFiscalYear08=$13.5M;fundinginFiscalYear15=$10.1M).• FewstatesoffertherangeofsignificanthistoricassetsasOhio.FromprehistoricIndianmoundstomanufacturing history to the birthplace of aviation and presidents, Ohioans are surrounded by history that shapes our world.

•TheOhioHistoryConnectionadministers58historicsiteslocatedin40countiesacrossOhio.

Encourage the development of agritourism in Ohio with a balanced protection for consumers and providers. • Asvisitors’interestsgrowintomore“farmtotable”

and natural experiences, the desire to interact with nature first hand drives new visitor experiences.

Support policies to enhance the quality of Ohio’s natural resources, including legislation geared toward reducing harmful algal bloom incidences in Ohio.• Hunting,fishingandwildlifewatchinginOhiogenerates$3.9billion.

• Fourteenpercent(14%)ofOhio’sovernightvisitorsparticipate in outdoor activities.

Easing Travel through OhioContinuetoenhancethevisitorexperienceatOhio’sTravelInformationCenters.• EncouragesmartpoliciesatODOTtoensurethan

travelers’ needs are being met.

IncorporatethearrowheadsymboloftheNationalParkService on state highway signs that indicate an area that ispartoftheNationalParkSystem.• Ohioisfortunatetohave11nationalparks,historic

sites, monuments, and memorials. • In2013,2.4millionguestsvisitedOhio’snationalparks,generating$149millionineconomicimpact.