Lots of folks are driving to the Northwoods to vacation.
That's the word from state Department of Tourism Secretary Stephanie Klett. This week is set aside to focus on tourism and Klett focused on Oneida county as one example of more tourist spending...
"....I'm really proud of Oneida county. When you think of the population of Oneida county compared to places like Milwaukee county or Dane county or Brown county, the home of the Packers, Out of 72 counties, Oneida county ranks 15th statewide for visitor spending and business sales. That is a huge accomplishment. From 2016-1, Oneida county was up 3.5 percent from the prior year. Total sales in Oneida county: $305 million dollars...that is massive..."
Vilas county also showed a 3 percent growth to $219 million. Klett attributes the growth to stepped up marketing and promotion and a change in the approach to marketing. She says they focused on simply having fun in Wisconsin, and that message is apparently appealing to more tourists.
About 2,200 jobs are found in Oneida county related to tourism, and local-state revenues from traveler spending topped $22 million.
The full report is at the Department of Tourism website. We have a linkhere.
