Room tax receipts were up ten percent in the Rhinelander area in the first quarter of this year.
Chamber Director Dana DeMet says that’s a significant increase from last year.
“That would indicate a really strong showing over the winter months, he says. "Plus you compare that, the 2014 winter was one of the biggest on record. So even though we had more snow, colder temperatures in 2014, 2015 actually shaped up to be a better winter in terms of tourism numbers.”
DeMet says the region benefited from good snow cover when many other parts of the state were bare.
He also credits the economy and people having more disposable income.
Last year was also good for tourism throughout Oneida County, which tied Vilas County for direct visitor spending...at more than 207-million dollars.
That’s a growth of more than five percent for Oneida County, and about three percent for Vilas County compared to the previous year.
DeMet, President of the Oneida County Tourism Council, attributes some of the increase to a marketing push, through tv and print ads.
“Minocqua’s saying hey, come to Minocqua, Rhinelander’s saying hey come to Rhinelander; and on top of that we have Oneida County on top of that, saying come to Oneida County, highlighting all the different communities," he explained. "So that, over the past few years, has been a concerted effort.”
He also notes that Oneida County benefits from visitor traffic passing through on their way further north as well.
Vilas County Tourism Director Cindy Burzinski says it was a strong year for both summer and winter tourism.
“I think it was a growth overall," she said, "because people are becoming more relaxed about traveling. They’re disposable income is a little bit better than it was in previous years.”
Oneida and Vilas counties rank 15th and 16th for visitor spending statewide.
