Tourism generated $4.69 billion in Rhode Island last year, a $193 million or a 4.3 percent gain over 2003, according to a University of Rhode Island study released last week. URI’s Office of Travel and Tourism Research predicted the trend of continued spending and growth will continue.
“The efforts to promote our wonderful state both nationally and locally are clearly working,” Gov. Donald L. Carcieri said at the 20th annual tourism luncheon on May 11, when the state’s annual tourism report card was released.
The report showed that industry payroll and benefits jumped $59 million – 5 percent – between 2003 and 2004. Benefits and payroll totaled $1.24 billion last year in an industry that employs 68,000 people in the state.
The governor said, “The use of television advertising in key markets along with creative innovations on the state tourism Web site and efforts such as ‘Tour Rhode Island: There’s No Place Like Home’ are clearly doing a tremendous job of showcasing Rhode Island and attracting visitors.”
People visiting from outside Rhode Island spent $2.78 billion on travel and tourism last year, up $85 million or 3.2 percent from 2003. The report showed that the state had more than 16 million visitors from every state in the United States and more than 50 foreign countries.
“It’s clear that most of the growth in tourism is coming from out-of-state visitors in our key markets in the Northeast,” Carcieri said. “The campaign is obviously doing a good job of piquing their interest. I have no doubt the tourism industry will grow even stronger this year.”
Rhode Island Tourism Director David C. DePetrillo said the state launched a promotional campaign two months ago aimed at driving visitors to the state’s tourism Web site, www.visitrhodeisland.com. The revamped site has new features that include a customized trip planner and “Rhode Island Heritage Trails,” which has 13 themed trails exploring various parts of the state, DePetrillo said.
“To date, visitors have created more than 2,000 customized itineraries on our trip planner, which means they plan to visit Rhode Island some time this summer or fall season,” DePetrillo said.
Five thousand people who visited the Web site reviewed the Heritage Trail materials, news that DePetrillo says is “great for our historic attractions.”
“Those of us in the tourism and hospitality industry will be here to welcome them and their contribution to Rhode Island’s economy,” DePetrillo said.
Carcieri and DePetrillo presented the 2005 Governor’s Tourism Achievement Award to the Rhode Island School of Design Museum.
