MONEY SPENT BY TOURISTS HELP THOSE HERE AT HOME

Some of the most important people in town don't live here they just pass through. But on the way these tourists spend millions of dollars each year in our restaurants, stores and motels.

Tourism benefits both our region and all of Missouri. It is the second largest revenue-producing industry in the state - second only to manufacturing. Tourism generated $11.2 billion to the state economy in 1991.

In Cape Girardeau, the tourism picture remains upbeat. The Cape Girardeau Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) released its 1992 report this week. It reveals that conventions, tourism events and group tours contributed $9,608,661 to the local economy. That figure is up more than $3 million over 1991. These totals deal only with tourism activities serviced by the CVB. That means the full economic boon is even greater.

Some of these people come to town for specific events in Cape Girardeau. Others are just passing through on bus tours, on the way to other tourist attractions.

The CVB reports the biggest chunk of travel dollars came from special events, festivals and tournaments. The bureau assisted 60 events, which attracted more than 343,000 people in 1992. Among these special events were the Midwest Forest Products Show, which attracted 8,000 visitors; the Missouri Baptist Convention, with over 4,000 in attendance; the Missouri State Square Dance Convention, 1,400 people; the TOPS convention, 1,500 people; and the Southeast Missouri district teachers meeting and Lutheran Women's Association meeting, each attracting 1,000 people.

The number of conventions and meetings were also up last year. In 1992, the CVB assisted 56 conventions and meetings, which drew 18,000 people. The bureau also aided another 137 group tours, with a total of 6,165 passengers. There are already 120 tours on the schedule this year. Many of the tours are booking overnight stops in Cape Girardeau en route to Branson.

There's little doubt tourism is big business in Missouri. This money spent not only helps local businesses, but assists all of us through tax revenues. A recent Missouri Division of Tourism study found that traveler spending alone generated more than $2 billion in tax revenues to the government - $625 million to the state, $271 million to local governments, $1.2 and billion to the feds. And those tax revenues boost city and county coffers. In other words, these visitors help us all to pay for streets, education and government departments.

Hopefully, a good experience in our town and region will bring these tourists back on return visits. Dollars spent by these passersby benefit all of us here at home.