You Gotta Spend Money to Make Money in Mass!

Today’s Boston Herald had a story lamenting Massachusett’s pathetically low spending for tourism and the results.

“The Bay State has fallen way behind other states in spending on tourism and it shows, say tourism industry executives. Massachusetts ranked 15th in tourism dollars spent here, falling behind the likes of Rust Belt states such as Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

Travelers spent $11.2 million in Massachusetts in 2003, the most recent year in which numbers are available for all states, according to the Travel Industry of America. California ranked number one, pulling in $71.6 million, followed by Florida at $56.2 million.

“We should be in the top 10 of total domestic and international spending and the fact that we’re not is directly tied to the fact that we’re number 35th in the U.S. in terms of our spending on tourism,” said Patrick Moscaritolo, head of the Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau. “You’ve got to spend money to make money. It’s an investment.”

The state spent $7 million on tourism in 2004, falling behind most states, including Maine, which spent $7.5 million.