Professionally Speaking
Professionally Speaking is a paid promotional spot in B2B.
Tourism helps communities thrive by Amy Albright of Oshkosh Convention & Visitors Bureau 920.303.9200 Oshkosh, Wisconsin’s Event City, had the pleasure of welcoming more than one million visitors last year. All these travelers bring tremendous value to the Oshkosh area, which is why we always welcome them with open arms. What makes tourism so important is that it encourages visitors to come to our destination and spend money. And, if Oshkosh provided an enjoyable stay, they continue to return again and again. This simple process has an incredibly positive impact on the Oshkosh area. Tourism brings visitors and dollars into our communities, helps sustain and create jobs, encourages entrepreneurial business starts, generates non-resident taxes for government and supports local nonprofits. Visitor spending produces much-needed tax revenue, which stimulates growth and development in our community. It funds things like our police officers, fire
departments, roads, parks and other essential programs and services for local citizens. Visitor spending also helps keep our establishments vibrant and gives them the incentive to stay here and invest in the community. Tourism helps sustain and create employment in the Oshkosh area. Nearly 5,000 jobs are supported annually through tourism-related activities. Without tourism-supported jobs, the unemployment rate would more than double. It feels great and gives you a sense of pride when people want to visit your community. It’s a reminder that you live in a special place and have assets that don’t exist elsewhere. Visitors are coming here to attend our events and spend money at our restaurants and retail businesses. This spending also lures news businesses to our area, which adds to our community’s resources.
tourism often overlooked is the significant impact it has on local, nonprofit organizations, programs and services. Numerous events held in the Oshkosh area donate a portion, or even all, of their proceeds to help and assist nonprofit entities every year. Without the support received from these events and the visitors who attend them, many of these nonprofits would struggle to operate or not exist at all. The prosperity gained from tourism continually improves the overall quality of life enjoyed in Oshkosh. Travelers truly benefit Oshkosh in so many ways. That’s why our community welcomes them so enthusiastically each and every year and continues to work hard to ensure they return. Amy Albright is the Executive Director of the Oshkosh Convention & Visitors Bureau. To learn more about tourism in Winnebago County, go to www.VisitOshkosh.com or call (920) 303-9200.
190,310,000 An extremely important benefit of
REASONS TO LOVE OSHKOSH EVENTS EAA AIRVENTURE COUNTRY USA ROCK USA LIFEST ECONOMIC BENEFIT
ECONOMIC BENEFIT
ECONOMIC BENEFIT
ECONOMIC BENEFIT
590,000 ATTENDEES
150,000 ATTENDEES
105,000 ATTENDEES
90,000 ATTENDEES
$170 MILLION $8.86 MILLION $6.15 MILLION $5.3 MILLION
935,000 ATTENDEES | $190.31 MILLION IN ECONOMIC BENEFIT
VISITOSHKOSH.COM
www.newnorthb2b.com
NNB2B | May 2018 | 29