Projo Biz Blog

Tourists and day-trippers generated $5.4 billion in economic activity in Rhode Island last year, according to a report released today by research firm Global Insights, and accounted for 10 percent of all state and local tax revenues and supported jobs for 1 of every 10 Rhode Islanders.

Members of the state's tourism industry gathered this morning in a Newport hotel to hear the results of a study intended to be a benchmark for the way the industry measures its economic impact on the state.

"We want to look at tourism as an industry the same way we would look at pharmaceuticals," Kenneth J. McGill, a Global Insights director, told an audience of more than 100 people.

Visitors who come to Rhode Island from farther away than 50 miles and who stay overnight, as well as day-trippers, create an "iceberg" effect as they spend money that "cascades" beyond hotels, restaurants and tourist spots. For example, $12 million spent on legal services in the state last year is attributable to tourists.

"You can see how tourism goes out and touches the many industries" in the state, McGill said.

Comments

Pam said:

If every point made in this article is true...
Why are we $600 million in DEBT? What percentage
of the States economy is tourism? 10%? I believe
the numbers have been fudged!

Link | January 12, 2008 10:18 AM
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