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Explore Minnesota Legislative Session Update - April 4
Keeping you in the know of travel and tourism at the Minnesota State Capitol and beyond. Because #TourismMatters to all Minnesotans.
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| The Explore Minnesota Tourism team has been busy attending and testifying in House and Senate Committees to share the needs of the industry and garner support for Explore Minnesota's legislative priorities. If you have questions or concerns about the legislative process, please contact our Government Relations Coordinator, Lyndsey Hanson at Lyndsey.Hanson@state.mn.us. |
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| Explore Minnesota Testifies in House and Senate to Attract New Talent to Our State |
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| Last week, Lauren Bennett McGinty testified in the House and Senate in support of Explore Minnesota For Business. Two bills, HF3028 (Hassan) and SF3035 (Champion) include one-time funding of $12 million in FY24 to establish a new division within Explore Minnesota Tourism that will support the state’s economic development efforts, attract new talent, and position Minnesota as a top market for livability and economic opportunity. |
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| Explore Minnesota For Business will: |
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Develop marketing campaigns to attract new talent to grow Minnesota's stagnant workforce. |
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Create new marketing materials to support the benefits of starting a business in the state and highlight other economic opportunities. |
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Research and identify new markets, nationally and internationally, to market living and investing in Minnesota. |
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Develop more consistent marketing materials for other state agencies to use when promoting programming to attract new residents and businesses. |
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| To grow the economic impact of our state and bring in revenue for our local communities, it is critical that we look at expanding awareness and excitement for Minnesota to new and larger markets across the country. |
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| Tourism Council Expansion Bill Advances In Both Chambers |
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| Both the House and Senate have advanced bills that will expand the membership of the Explore Minnesota Tourism Council. HF1922 (Hassan) and SF2369 (Champion) will add 7 voting members to the Explore Minnesota Tourism Council. |
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| These additional council members will emphasize our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in Minnesota. |
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| New members will increase collaboration and serve the broader interests of tourism across the state. A larger council will provide additional insights into growing the economic impact of tourism and perspective on tackling the tourism workforce challenges. |
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| Revised Budget Recommendations Include Proposed Explore Minnesota Funding |
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| Governor Walz and Lt. Governor Flanagan recently released their revised budget recommendations which included a base budget increase for Explore Minnesota to rightsize our state investment and grow Minnesota’s visitor economy. |
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| The pandemic changed the travel and tourism industry forever, requiring a new direction for a stronger future. While Minnesota's tourism industry continues to recover, we are falling behind the rest of the country. In fact, Minnesota was one of only three states not to receive a budget increase during the pandemic. |
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| The time is now to increase investments in tourism to support Minnesota's communities and small businesses and to elevate our state as a top tier destination for national and international travelers. |
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| Why #TourismMatters to Minnesota |
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Tourism is a $16 billion industry for Minnesota, touches almost every industry in the state and is vital for Minnesota's economy. |
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With 229,000 jobs for Minnesotans, tourism is a gateway to economic expansion through attraction and retention of workforce and business investment. |
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Each household in Minnesota would need to be taxed an additional $993 to replace the visitor-generated taxes received by state and local governments in 2022. |
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In 2022 Minnesota's Leisure & Hospitality posted the highest year over year growth compared to other industry subsectors. |
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LEGISLATORS: Book a meeting to discuss #TourismMatters with Explore Minnesota's executive director Lauren Bennett McGinty. |
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COUNCIL MEMBERS: CALL YOUR LEGISLATORS - Be sure to book time with your legislators to discuss why #TourismMatters to Minnesota. |
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| For more information, visit TourismMatters.org. |
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| Follow @ExploreMinn on Twitter for more ways #TourismMatters to Minnesota. And share your why #TourismMatters with your local community on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram! |
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