FEATURE Review
by Stephen Foutes and Liz Coleman
Selling Fun Is Serious Business For The Missouri Division of Tourism
Hermann, Missouri. Photo Credit: Missouri Division of Tourism.
Missouri has long known the importance of tourism to the state’s economy – and to communities large and small. The General Assembly created the Missouri Tourism Commission more than 50 years ago to promote the state as a travel destination. Few things have underscored the importance of tourism to the state as much as the COVID-19 pandemic. In a matter of weeks, an industry that pumps millions of dollars
into Missouri’s economy every year was facing major challenges. Although some destinations, especially those offering outdoor activities, held steady, many others struggled from a sharp decline in travel. While the travel industry is on the rebound from 2020, Tourism Economics, a leading industry research firm, suggests full recovery may not happen for several more years, when
international, business, convention and event travel is projected to return to prepandemic levels.
An Economic Force As one of Missouri’s largest industries, tourism plays a significant role in the state’s economy. In Fiscal Year 2019, Missouri had 42.9 million visitors, resulting in an economic impact www.mocities.com
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