James Bolen: Tourism Grows – But We Can Do Even Better

Last week, the Department of Tourism announced another record year in Wisconsin! Over $20.6 billion in direct visitor spending.  I am not surprised because Wisconsin has it all: natural beauty, attractions, the arts, fishing, hunting and most important of all—fantastic hospitality.

Tourism and the forest products industry are the mainstays of our northern economy.  I believe we should be seeking opportunities in other ways to grow the northern economy.  However, it is also important to not lose sight of our strengths.

Because we must never lose sight of our strengths, I am calling for an increase in tourism funding in the next state budget.  As your state senator, I will make it a priority to find a small sliver of the state’s $76 billion budget to increase the tourism budget.  As part of the increased tourism funding, I will include the Creative Economy proposal championed by former Senator Harsdorf last legislative session. After all, the creative economy, including the arts, generates $535 million in economic activity and employs over 42,000 full-time jobs. Even a tiny sliver will be a big increase for tourism.  Plus, it will narrow the gap between us and Michigan and Illinois, whose tourism budgets are more than three times Wisconsin’s.

As a lifelong resident of northern Wisconsin, I know the impact of tourism on our economy. My wife, Heather, and our family, have lived the ups and downs of life as resort owners and I have had the privilege of serving as executive director of the Cable Chamber of Commerce.  There are few things more satisfying than seeing families unwind from their hectic lives for a week and enjoy what the Northwoods has to offer.

Because of my experience, including serving on the Governor’s Council on Tourism, I can bring the expertise to make the case a modest increase in the tourism budget is an investment that would yield big returns. Every dollar we spend on tourism brings over seven dollars in revenue back to the state.

Wisconsin has a true leader in Tourism Secretary Stephanie Klett. Under her leadership, Travel Wisconsin has won over 104 major marketing awards and has seen an increase in revenue every single year.  Tourism’s economic impact is up nearly 40 percent since Klett took the reigns at Tourism. Let’s invest in that leadership to make Wisconsin the destination for more of our friends across the country.

James Bolen has served as Executive Director of the Cable Area Chamber of Commerce for the past eleven years and on the Bayfield County Economic Development Corporation board of directors since 2011. He has served as a volunteer fireman and SCUBA rescue diver and devotes his time to volunteering for world-class events such as the Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival and American Birkebeiner.

James recently announced his candidacy for Wisconsin’s 25th Senate District. The 25th District is located in northwestern Wisconsin and is composed of part or all of Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Iron, Sawyer, Vilas and Washburn counties. In terms of size, it is the largest district in Wisconsin.

James currently resides in the Cable area where his family has managed a resort on Lake Owen for the past 20 years.