Tourism growth is result of city’s ongoing strategy

When you take an inventory of some of the city’s progress that’s happening right now, a lot of it can be attributed to tourism.

The SportsPlex project is an example. So is the convention center being built along the Interstate. And in a way, so is the Marquette Tech Project, which will include the opening of a downtown Marriott, bringing the first hotel to downtown in decades.

What many people perhaps lose sight of is that these current investments are the culmination of a bigger vision and strategy cast many years ago. Think of the investments made, both private and public, over the years. The city helped save the historic property along the riverfront and turned a crumbling relic into the shining jewel known today as the River Campus. Voters approved a park sales tax for a water park, which attracts thousands of people each summer. The vision of private developers with the combination of public backing brought a casino to the city, and along with it entertainment for thousands of visitors every year.

The city invested in Broadway’s streetscape, turning an eyesore into a pedestrian corridor, where more shops and establishments have opened.

Cape now has a children’s museum as well as a state-of-the-art playground for children of all abilities, a business in the mall for children to play and run around and slide down a zip line. Cape has a small zoo with exotic animals. New escape rooms. The Nature Center. Trails. The Osage Centre. The soccer park.

Long ago, Cape began a strategy to become a regional hub. The city has been that for quite some time, but more recently Cape has become a destination for more than just shopping, education and health services. So much so that huge investments are being made, as entrepreneurs are buying in to Cape’s future in tourism.

This success is not just anecdotal. The numbers tell the story.

From 2006 to 2014, hotel tax revenue grew from $526,870 to $693,085, a 32 percent change over that period. Revenue has grown each year from 2006 until now, with the exception of 2010 and 2011. And of course, not everyone who visits in Cape Girardeau spends the night. Many of the places seen as destinations draw in visitors from an hour away, who spend the day in Cape Girardeau and return home the same day.

Some may see the hotel tax figures and assume this only matters to hotels, but tourism doesn’t just help hotels. The city of Cape Girardeau relies heavily on sales taxes to pay for services in the city. When people come into town to stay, they also shop. And when they shop, they’re helping pay for streets, police officers and all city services. The more people visit Cape, the less the city has to rely on other types of tax collections, such as property taxes.

This is why the role of the city’s Convention and Visitors Bureau is so important. As public and private funds have been poured into infrastructure, it’s vital that people outside of Cape Girardeau are aware of what Cape offers. As the city prepares to open the SportsPlex, and indoor sports arena for tournaments, it’s vital that the CVB is working to recruit tournaments. When the convention center is built, it’s important for the CVB to recruit organizations to come and spend time here.

We see no signs of a tourism slowdown in Cape. Quite the opposite. As the city’s status gains popularity not just for its infrastructure but for its hospitality, we see the city’s strategy unfolding and envision even bigger things on the horizon for Cape Girardeau.