Commentary: From the Governor - Tourism numbers provide optimism for

Year after year, Maryland tourism has grown consistently, and Maryland continues to be one of the most successful states in the Mid- Atlantic region when it comes to attracting visitors. The bar was raised once again last year and Maryland is set for another successful year for tourism in 2005.

The Maryland Office of Tourism Development recently received figures from the Travel Industry Association of America indicating that visitor volume increased 33 percent for the first six months of 2004 compared with the same period in 2003. Significant increases were reported in visitors from Virginia, Delaware, California, Connecticut and Ohio.

Based on these six-month numbers, officials expect that Maryland will have welcomed a record-breaking 24 million visitors in 2004, compared with 20 million visitors the previous year. The Ehrlich- Steele administration plans to build on this outstanding growth and continue the positive momentum in Maryland's tourism industry.

The gains can be attributed to several key factors. Foremost is Maryland's robust economy, complemented by a very low unemployment rate. Another key factor is the state's strategic location on the Mid- Atlantic corridor and its proximity to nearly 60 percent of the nation's population, making it easy for visitors to travel to Maryland.

But the Office of Tourism Development also attributes the gains to a successful advertising campaign launched last spring. Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr., in his role as chief spokesman for the state, filmed the series of Seize the Day Off television ads. The commercials, in which Gov. Ehrlich encourages people to spend time enjoying Maryland, ran on regional stations from April through July and again in September and October in the Boston, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Hartford, New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Providence markets.

Outstanding attractions and hotels, world-class museums and restaurants and an abundance of history make Maryland an ideal tourism venue. A superior infrastructure - a state-of-the-art highway system, the Port of Baltimore and BWI Airport - makes travel to and within the state easy.

As the state continues to expand its tourism industry under the leadership of Gov. Ehrlich, Marylanders can expect an even greater economic impact. In 2003 - the most recent figures available - tourism contributed a record $9.3 billion to the state's economy. That figure is up from $8.8 billion the previous calendar year.

The study, compiled for Maryland's tourism office by the Travel Industry Association of America, also shows that tourism generated an estimated $788 million in state and local taxes. In addition, 112,000 people were employed in Maryland's tourism industry in 2003, remaining steady from 2002, mainly in the areas of foodservice, public transportation and lodging.

For generations, Marylanders have known about all of the wonderful things that the state had to offer. As the travel industry has recently found, the world is beginning to know, as well.

The administration of Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. produces a regular column for The Daily Record. The opinions expressed are the administration's. Dean Storm and Karen Glenn, who work in the state's Department of Business and Economic Development communications office, contributed to this column. For additional information about the department or its programs, call 1-888-ChooseMD or visit ChooseMaryland.org on the Web.

Copyright 2005 Dolan Media Newswires
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.