Smoky the Bear

The April 16, 2009, issue of the Duluth Budgeteer News carried a story "Tourism forecast is solid and steady", written by Terry Mattson of Visit Duluth told about the strengths of the local tourism infrastructure and how he predicts it will hold steady during the economic downturn.

Stephen Regenold’s story in the April 24, 2009, New York Times, "Northern Exposure", rounded up a series of outdoor experiences in northern tier states, including Minnesota. In the same edition of the New York Times, Gustave Axelson’s story "A Woodland Lesson in Fire’s Power to Destroy and Build", chronicled the devastation of the Ham Lake Fire in the Boundary Water Canoe Area and how impressive the flora and fauna recover.

An April 17, 2009, Forbes.com story, "The call of the wild, luxury style", describes how "wilderness resorts", once remote backcountry outposts, have now become "experiences that blend luxury with the wilds". His Minnesota example is the Lodge of the Whispering Pines, and how the hiking trails transform to cross country ski trails, and lakes turn into snowmobile terrain and anglers become ice fishermen.

In the April 5, 2009, edition of Chicago’s Daily Herald (Arlington Heights), "Something pretty special here", Bob Smith tells about his photographic visits to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

A significant number of media outlets picked up the Explore Minnesota Tourism news release announcing that exploreminnesota.com had moved to mobile, including WCNC.com in Charlotte, NC; dallasnews.com, site of the Dallas Morning News; TMCnet.com, and News Blaze, both national news and information aggregators.

The weekly EMT Fishing Report is disseminated via e-mail and RSS feed, posted on the EMT Web site, and used to produce recorded messages available through 1-888-TOURISM. Thousands of consumers and media read and hear this report on a regular basis. In fact, the number of e-mail newsletter subscribers has grown by 36% in one year! And just one source of RSS feed view statistics reports 1335 fishing report viewers last month — the actual number being significantly higher!

EMT will accept fishing reports from chambers of commerce, convention and visitors bureaus, resort associations and other community organizations. Reports must be received by Tuesday morning to be included in the weekly report. The community organizations will be credited, along with contact information provided for customers wanting information on area bait shops, lodging establishments, and other travel information. Reports must not be longer than 150 words. Communities wanting to submit their information will need to provide:

1. Name of city/area and area waters covered
2. Current fishing activity on Minnesota waters, i.e., species of fish being caught on specific bodies of water, types of bait used, recommended fishing techniques/methods, and time of day
3. Other regulatory items of importance
4. Name of person & organization reporting, phone, and Web address (if applicable)

**Information regarding natural occurrences such as lake-turnover, or events such as well as upcoming fishing tournaments, will also be considered.

Please restrict your reports to the above criteria, and send your information within the body of the e-mail to fishing@emt.travel. All reports must be accurate and up-to-date. Any consumer complaints regarding the accuracy of the reports will be referred to the appropriate source.

EMT will make every effort to assure that the fishing report is equitably representative of the state. We reserve the right to both limit and solicit reports from organizations to fulfill this goal, and best meet the needs of the consumer. At times, it may be necessary to either partially edit or remove a report entirely if space, time and/or special circumstances demand.

For more information, contact Christine Lawton at Christine.Lawton@state.mn.us.

Keynote speaker will be John Edman, Director, of Explore Minnesota Tourism. Other presenters will include Dave Bergman, Explore Minnesota Tourism, Linda Fryer, Ely Chamber of Commerce, Randy Gutzmann, President of the Minnesota Festival and Events Association, Ken Johnson, University of Minnesota Crookston, Cynthia Messer, University of Minnesota Tourism Center, and Ryan Pesch, Minnesota Extension Service.

The event is made possible by the financial support of the Northwest Regional Sustainable Partnership. Cost of the session will be $30.00 which includes registration, lunch and break costs. Registrations will be accepted until May 5, 2009, or until space is filled.

To register for the seminar contact the Thief River Falls Community Development Office at 218-681-2500 or commdev@citytrf.net.

During the fourth quarter of 2008, however, a shift took place in arrivals to the United States. During the last quarter of the year, only 12 of the top 20 countries posted growth. Both Canada and Mexico posted declines in arrivals and all overseas markets declined by almost three percent. Of the nine world regions tracked each month, five posted declines in arrivals.

In 2008, German arrivals increased 17 percent, French arrivals grew 25 percent, and Italian arrivals were up 23 percent, continuing growth trends from 2007.

Also in 2008, visitation from the Netherlands grew 20 percent. At the same time, visitors from Spain and Ireland grew 27 percent and eight percent, respectively. Arrivals from Sweden and Switzerland were up 18 percent and 15 percent, respectively, for the year. Only Ireland and the United Kingdom posted declines among the top 15 Western European arrivals markets for the fourth quarter of 2008. All the other countries registered increases in arrivals, although at a slower rate.

Arrivals from the United Kingdom were down 14 percent in December but up more than one percent for the year. Visitors from the United Kingdom accounted for 37 percent of all Western European arrivals.

The U.S. Department of Commerce announced that a record 58 million international visitors traveled to the United States during 2008, an increase of nearly 4 percent over 2007. Thirteen of the top 25 arrival markets broke records set in previous years. In December 2008, the total monthly visitation reached 3.9 million, down seven percent when compared to December 2007. Fourth quarter total arrivals declined 6 percent.

With this shift among some of the top U.S. markets, OTTI would like to encourage the industry to watch the developments for U.S. arrivals by returning to the monthly arrivals page on OTTI’s website at: http://www.tinet.ita.doc.gov/research/monthly/arrivals/index.html.

A few other tools to assist the industry understand the changes in 2009 include:
In May 2009, OTTI will be disseminating an annual forecast for U.S. arrivals for 2009 and the next few years. The Travel Trade Barometer program, which provides a short term forecast for arrivals from the Canada, Mexico, United Kingdom, and Germany markets, will also be available. To learn more about these programs, go to: http://www.tinet.ita.doc.gov/research/index.html.

The monthly arrivals data, the Barometer program, and forecast data for top markets should provide the industry with sufficient information to track and analyze shifts in U.S. arrivals.

HIGHLIGHTS: 2008 International Arrivals¹ to the United States

• In 2008, Canadian visitation totaled 18.9 million, up 7 percent for the year and driven by land arrivals, which were up 6 percent. At the same time, air arrivals increased by 8 percent.
• Arrivals from Mexico totaled 13.8 million, decreasing 4 percent in 2008 compared to 2007. Air arrivals were down 9 percent for the year.
• Overseas arrivals (excluding Canada and Mexico) totaled 25.3 million, up 6 percent for the year, but were still 2 percent below the record set in 2000.
• Although arrivals were down 2 percent from 2000, the last record year, they have increased 33 percent from 2003, the post-9/11 low in arrivals to the United States.
• U.S. visitation from Western Europe, 12.2 million visitors, was up 12 percent for the year and accounted for 48 percent of overseas arrivals. In December 2008, travelers from Western Europe were down 3 percent.
• New records were set in France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, Sweden, Belgium, Denmark, and Norway.
• Arrivals from the United Kingdom were down 14 percent in December but up more than 1 percent for the year. Visitors from the United Kingdom accounted for 37 percent of all Western European arrivals.
• In 2008, German arrivals increased 17 percent, French arrivals grew 25 percent, and Italian arrivals were up 23 percent, continuing growth trends from 2007. Also in 2008, visitation from the Netherlands grew 20 percent. At the same time, visitors from Spain and Ireland grew 27 percent and 8 percent, respectively. Arrivals from Sweden and Switzerland were up 18 percent and 15 percent, respectively, for the year. Only Ireland and the United Kingdom posted declines among the top 15 Western European arrivals markets for the fourth quarter of 2008. All the other countries registered increases in arrivals, although at a slower rate.
• Visitation from Asia decreased 3 percent in 2008, but still accounted for 24 percent of overseas arrivals. Japanese arrivals decreased 8 percent in 2008, accounting for 53 percent of all Asian visitors for the year. In 2008, arrivals from South Korea decreased 6 percent. Taiwanese visitation decreased 5 percent in 2008.
• The emerging markets, India and the People’s Republic of China, grew 6 percent and 24 percent respectively. India and China both set new arrivals records in 2008.
• Arrivals from South America, accounting for 10 percent of overseas arrivals, were up 12 percent in 2008. Year-to-date, double-digit growth in visitation was recorded from Brazil (+20%), Venezuela (+11%), and Argentina (+19%). From South America, top arrivals were from Brazil accounted for 30 percent of all arrivals from the region. Colombia set a new record for the year, posting an 8 percent growth rate for the year.
• Visitation from the Caribbean area decreased 9 percent in 2008. In 2008, there was a 14 percent decrease in arrivals from the Dominican Republic, the top arrivals market from this region.
• Travel from Oceania increased 2 percent in 2008. Australian arrivals registered a 3 percent expansion for the year, which meant it set a new arrivals record in 2008. In 2008, Australia accounted for 81 percent of all arrivals from Oceania.
• Central American arrivals in 2008 were down 1 percent when compared to 2007.
• Arrivals from the Middle East increased 10 percent in 2008. In 2008, Israel’s visitation increased 6 percent, allowing this market to also set a new arrivals record.
• Eastern European arrivals grew 14 percent in 2008. Polish arrivals were up 6 percent over 2007, and Russian visitation increased 25 percent. Both countries set arrivals records in 2008.
• African visitation was up 14 percent for the year.

Overall, for the first nine months of 2008, 40 of the top 50 countries posted increases in arrivals, 23 of these countries were growing at a double-digit growth rate when compared to the first nine months of 2007. Then, during the fourth quarter 2008, growth in arrivals to the United States was only registered by 27 of the top 50 arrivals markets and only 11 countries posted double-digit growth in the fourth quarter. This means that for 2008, 37 of the top 50 arrivals markets posted growth rates when compared to 2007, and 20 of these countries ended the year with double-digit growth when compared to annual 2007 arrivals.
To access the 2008 annual and monthly arrivals data for world regions and top markets, visit: http://tinet.ita.doc.gov/view/m-2008-I-001/index.html.

TOP PORTS: Year-to-Date December 2008
In 2008, overseas arrivals (excluding Canada and Mexico) were up 6 percent. Arrivals through the top 15 ports of entry accounted for 84 percent of all overseas arrivals, nearly 1 percent higher than last year.

Thirteen of the top fifteen ports posted increases in arrivals in 2008. Arrivals increased by double digits through six of the ports. Arrivals through San Francisco and Chicago increased 8 percent and 4 percent, respectively, moving them into fifth and sixth positions ahead of Honolulu, which experienced a 10 percent decline in arrivals. Atlanta, increasing 13 percent, moved into eighth place, just ahead of Agana, Guam. Houston, increasing 11 percent, moved into 12th place, ahead of Boston and Detroit. Arrivals through Philadelphia grew 26 percent as it climbed into the 15th spot; registering the largest growth among the top 15 ports of entry.

To access top port activity, go to the OTTI monthly arrivals page above and scroll down the page until you see the yellow title bar entitled: 2008 Monthly Top Airports for Overseas Non-Resident Arrivals. Click on the Excel file to view the monthly port figures.

Arrivals to the United States by port-of-entry are tracked on a monthly basis. The U.S. Department of Commerce has arrival data on more than 40 U.S. ports-of-entry from all world regions and 30 countries, with a brief analysis presented on the top 15 ports for overseas arrivals during 2008.

Source:
The monthly Summary of International Travel to the U.S. report has approximately 30 tables that provide data on monthly and year-to-date arrivals to the United States. The report provides data on approximately 90 countries each month and more than 40 ports of entry. Numerous breakouts are provided by world region and country for the port tables as well.

To find out more about this program, please go to: http://www.tinet.ita.doc.gov/research/programs/i94/index.html.

If you would like to subscribe to the monthly international arrivals reports, please go to:
http://www.tinet.ita.doc.gov/research/reports/i94/index.html, or
U.S. Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration
Office of Travel and Tourism Industries (OTTI)
1401 Constitution Avenue N.W., Room 1003
Washington, D.C. 20230
Phone: 202-482-0140, Fax: 202-482-2887
E-mail: tinet_info@ita.doc.gov
www.tinet.ita.doc.gov/

¹ The U.S. Department of Commerce complies with the UN World Tourism Organization (WTO) standard definition and class of international travelers when reporting monthly and annual arrivals data. This standard excludes all day-trippers from any of the counts/estimates, including those from Canada and Mexico. Also, OTTI has included non-immigrant visa type ‘E’ treaty traders or investors and ‘I’ representatives of foreign information media into the counts to more accurately reflect business visitation.

United States Records 58 Million Visitors in 2008
More than 58 million international visitors traveled to the United States in 2008, an increase of 4 percent from 2007, according to statistics released by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration (ITA).

• North American arrivals represented 56 percent of the international visitation to the United States. Canadian visitation (18.9 million) was up 7 percent compared to arrivals in 2007. Mexican visitation (13.8 million) was down 4 percent from 2007.
• Overseas arrivals (excluding Canada and Mexico) totaled 25.3 million, up 6 percent for the year.
• Western European travel to the United States totaled a record 12.2 million visitors, up 12 percent from 2007. New visitation records were set by Belgium, Denmark, France, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, and Sweden. Travel from the top market, the United Kingdom, grew more than 1 percent from 2007.
• Asia/Pacific arrivals to the United States declined by 3 percent. The emerging markets, India and the People’s Republic of China, both set visitation records in 2008, posting 6 percent and 24 percent increases, respectively. Australian travel increased 3 percent for the year, setting another record for arrivals in 2008.
• From Latin America, South American arrivals were up 12 percent. Double-digit growth was experienced in visitation from Brazil (up 20 percent), Argentina (up 19 percent), and Venezuela (up 11 percent). Colombia also set a record for the year. In addition, arrivals from Central America and Caribbean dropped by 1 percent and nine percent, respectively.
• Arrival totals from Africa and the Middle East grew by 13 percent and 10 percent, respectively. Israel also set a record for arrivals, posting a 6 percent growth rate for the year.

Source:
ITA’s Office of Travel and Tourism Industries (OTTI) collects, analyzes, and disseminates international travel and tourism statistics for the U.S. Travel and Tourism Statistical System. To view OTTI visitation data tables, please visit: http://www.tinet.ita.doc.gov/view/m-2008-I-001/index.html.

• Minnesota Explorer Events Calendar – seasonal reminders to update your events for publication in our newspaper insert.
• Minnesota Explorer Community Listings – a seasonal reminder to communities to place your orders for a listing in our newspaper insert.
• Annual Accommodations Survey – a reminder to update your free listing on www.ExploreMinnesota.com which could include rates, e-mail addresses and new amenities you are offering.
• Annual Attractions Survey – a reminder to update your information for your free listing on www.ExploreMinnesota.com which could include rates, description, and date/time changes.
• Subscriptions to EMT Express – a bi-weekly e-mail that gives you the scoop on what’s happening with tourism in Minnesota.

Please contact your local Internet Service Provider (ISP) or Software Helpdesk if you need assistance in making changes to your spam filter settings. Explore Minnesota Tourism does not reply to e-mails returned by anti-spam software requesting validation or verification from sender.

Some of the benefits of updating electronically are:

• It will save time, resources, and money for all of us
• It will eliminate clutter on your desk and in your filing cabinet
• You won’t have to find an envelope and stamp to return a paper survey
• and last, but not least, IT’S FREE!

Can’t find your e-mail? Didn’t get an e-mail? Go to http://extranet.exploreminnesota.com and click on "lost password." We’ll send you your User Id and password within 24 hours. Can’t wait? Call your regional manager or contact Kimberly Clarke at 800-657-3737. Having problems making your updates or logging in? Call Kim Fitzgerald at 800-657-3737.

The statistics are provided to Explore Minnesota Tourism (EMT) by the Minnesota Department of Revenue through an interagency agreement, and can be found at
Resort Sales Use Tax Statistics.

A comparison with 2006 statistics shows the following gains for Minnesota resorts in 2007:

• A 6.1% increase in total gross sales at Minnesota resorts, from $242.7 million in 2006 to $257.6 million in 2007;
• A 5.3% increase in total taxable sales at Minnesota resorts, from $210.8 million in 2006 to $222.1 million in 2007; and
• A 5.2% increase in total state sales tax collected at Minnesota resorts, from $14.1 million in 2006 to $14.8 million in 2007.

All of the 2007 resort sales and state sales tax amounts showed the largest annual increases since these reports were re-vamped for 2004.

In addition to dollar amounts, the statistics showed a very small decrease in the number of establishments, from 944 in 2006 to 942 in 2007. However, establishment counts should only be used as a general guide to the actual number of resorts and changes in resorts over time due to unavoidable instances of double-counting of resorts (i.e., establishments for which a tax return is filed) that change ownership in a given year. On a statewide basis, these and other statistical issues should generally cancel each other out across years, but may present greater challenges when looking at smaller geographic areas over time.

Similar annual resort statistics dating back to 2004 are also available in the research section of the industry website. In addition, annual statewide totals for number of resorts and gross sales are also available for many previous years dating back to 1985.

For questions, contact Pat Simmons, EMT’s research analyst at patrick.simmons@state.mn.us.

St. Louisan Karl Palazzolo spent four months paddling the Mississippi River solo, beginning in St. Louis. He got as far as St. Cloud, 420 miles of the great river. St. Cloud writer Chad Garrison wrote a feature about Palazzolo’s odyssey, and it was picked up in the St. Louis News. Video clips of the trip are posted at www.seasicktours.com.

Paulette Dinniny penned an item in the March 22, 2009, Lancaster (PA) Sunday News, telling about her visit to Grandview Lodge for cross country skiing, downhill skiing, ice skating and snowmobiling. She also participated in the Brainerd Jaycees Ice Fishing Extravaganza and savored the resort’s amenities.

On Friday, March 20, 2009, the Austin Daily Herald ran a story "Spring arrives after one cold season," heralding the signs of spring and mentioning several of the state’s vacation places.

Caroline Dohack’s story "Byways, not highways: See wildlife, natural wonders and oddities on scenic roads," was in the March 15, 2009, Columbia (MO) Daily Tribune. The story included the Great River Road for its "mix of art and history, city and country."

The March 9, 2009, Yuma Arizona News published "Summer Vacation Ideas for Every Mood," that included the Superior Hiking Trail "for those who want to get back in touch with Mother Nature".

Regent Broadcastings’ WJON am1240 St. Cloud has carried a regular series, "A Tour of 10,000 Lakes," featuring periodic items on The Early Morning Newswatch with host Bob Hughes. To date, features have been carried on St. Cloud, Duluth, Stillwater, Little Falls, Brainerd/Baxter, Grand Rapids, South Central Minnesota, Alexandria, Fargo/Moorhead, Rochester, Onamia, International Falls and Bemidji. In addition, host Hughes does a weekly interview with Chuck Lennon of Explore Minnesota Tourism, which can be heard Thursdays from 8:15-8:30 a.m.

On Saturday, March 14, 2009, Chuck Lennon interviewed on the "Get Real Girls" show on FM107.1 in the Twin Cities. He talked about the trend in "staycations" with hosts Colleen Lindstrom and Liv Lane.

The Sunday, March 22, 2009, issue of the Star Tribune included the Spring/Summer 2009 issue of the Minnesota Explorer newspaper as a separate section. And the April issue of Minnesota Monthly magazine carries the 2009 Explore Minnesota Biking guide.

The Meet In Minnesota news conference held March 4, 2009, at the Rivercentre in St. Paul, included media representatives from WCCO TV, KSTP TV, KARE 11 TV, KAAL TV – Austin, KXRA TV – Alexandria (via KSTP), KTTC TV – Rochester, WCCO Radio, MPR Radio, and TPT Public Television. Additional coverage of this initiative was carried in Finance & Commerce, St. Paul Pioneer Press, FM108 and Cities 97 radio, with more expected in April issues of national meetings magazines.

Curt (CJ) Johnson of Explore Minnesota Tourism did recent interviews with KDAL Radio, Duluth, the Minnesota News Network and the White Bear Press newspaper, regarding the Governors Fishing Opener to be held on White Bear Lake north of St. Paul. Johnson also talked on air about Minnesota festivals and events on WDAY radio, Fargo and did recent interviews on KQLX radio – Lisbon/Fargo, North Dakota and Red Rock Radio – Duluth.

On Friday, February 27, 2009, and Friday, March 27, 2009, Chuck Lennon placed two tourism guests on the Craig Holgate Show, WNMT Hibbing.

Entering is simple: Visit the contest Web site www.meetingsmeanbusiness.com/facesoftravel and submit a 45 to 60 second video telling why meetings and events travel is important to your job and community and why you should be the "Face of Travel". Entrants should attempt to address the following two questions in their submissions:

• Why is travel related to meetings and events important to your job and your community? (How does your employer/community benefit from travelers? What would a decline in travel mean to you? To your company? To your city? How have you seen your community and colleagues benefit from welcoming out-of-town business travelers?)
• Why should you be the face of the travel industry? (How does your job help support your community? How do you make business travelers feel welcome in your community? How do you represent what is best about the travel industry?)

The contest winner will help spread the message to the media and our government leaders in Washington, D.C. that meetings and events mean good jobs for your industry sector and travel industry workers across the country.

Thank you for participating in this very important campaign!