JACKSON ALDERMEN TO CONSIDER PROPOSAL TO BOOST CITY'S TOURISM

JACKSON - Some Jackson aldermen agree to a need for Jackson becoming involved in promoting tourism in the city and surrounding area. But they say careful study is needed before any decision is made on creating a tourism board and allocating funds for promotion of tourism.

The question came up earlier this month when a group of Jackson residents led by Trisha Wischmann made a presentation on tourism to the Board of Aldermen. The group proposed that a tourism board be formed so the city could allocate funds for promoting tourism. On Monday the group was told the board had not had time to discuss the proposal.

The citizens want the city to create a tourism board that would function much like the park board. It would receive funds from the city and make recommendations on tourist-promotion projects.

The group has proposed a first year operating budget of $13,850, which would include money for billboards, payment for the Oliver House utilities, publication of a tourism brochure and funds to attend special programs dealing with tourism.

During the second year of the proposed tourism budget, the amount allocated for tourism would increase to $27,350. It would include continuation of programs started during the first year's budget plus the addition of a part-time tourism director, who would operate from a rent-free office provided by the Chamber of Commerce. The director's $8,000 salary plus other expenses such as office equipment, $2,500; revamping of Jackson Homecomers, $1,500; and additional highway signs, $1,500; would come from the tourism budget.

Wischmann, who owns and operates a bed-and-breakfast inn at the Mueller Haus in Jackson and is state president of the Bed and Breakfast Inns of Missouri, said it's time to think about promoting tourism in Jackson.

"The tourism industry in the Jackson area remains virtually untapped, with the exception of the steam railroad," said Ward 1 Alderman Paul Sander. "I would like to see tourism promotion get off dead center and get started. We have to start somewhere, but I want to make sure that any funds we put into tourism to promote Jackson are done in the right way and well spent."

Ward 2 Alderman Kevin Sawyer a supporter of tourism, said the board must make sure everything is in place before allocating funds. "The first thing is for us as a board to discuss the tourism board proposal that was suggested by the citizens group," Sawyer said. "If there is support, the next step would be to create a tourism board and ask local citizens to serve on the board. After that we would be in a position to discuss funding for the board."

Sander said the goal of a tourism board would be to map a plan for promoting tourism in Jackson and come up with specific proposals on how to use the city's tourism dollars to the most benefit to the city.

Ward 3 Alderman Val Tuschhoff said she supports the concept of a tourism board but wants to make sure that it will not directly benefit individual private enterprise tourist attractions. "I'm 100 percent for promoting tourism, such as brochures, but we need to study this thing to make sure we do not become involved in promoting private enterprise," she said.

Ward 4 Alderman LeRoy Brown said the board has discussed tourism promotion in the past, but it has always been a low priority. "Since these people have come to us, and there seems to be so much interest, I think we're at the point now where we need to do something in the way of promoting attractions by setting up a tourism board," Brown said.

Sawyer and Brown say they feel the board may act by mid- or late-summer on the proposal. "I think that before the end of the year you're going to seem some action on this," said Sawyer.

Sander said even though the 1993 budget has been adopted, funding for tourism could be achieved by adding it as a line item in an amended budget.

Wischmann said state figures show that for every dollar spent on tourism advertising and promotion, an average of $4 to $6 can be expected in sales tax revenues. "When tourists come to Jackson, they spend money at gas stations, restaurants, motels, and other businesses. That means extra sales and more revenue for the city from the sales tax," she explained.

Wischmann said tourism is an industry and not a special interest. "If you don't believe it, look at other towns such as Hannibal, New Madrid, or Mexico, Mo.," she said.

Wischmann said one year ago Mexico had no tourism budget. But after a 5-kilometer run was developed around a Mexican theme and 5,000 people visited the town during the two-day event, city leaders decided to take a serious look at what tourism could do to their city.

Today Mexico, population 12,000, has an $18,000 tourism budget and a tourism director. "Mexico took an idea, the 5K run, and promoted it, and they are literally off and running," Wischmann said. "We have more than just one tourist attraction in the Jackson area. Think what could be done if we were actively promoting tourism here."