New data shows that resorts work for Minnesota
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Contact: Michele Peters
651-296-0308
michele.peters@state.mn.us
St. Paul (November 7, 2007) - While there are 167 fewer resorts in Minnesota since 2000, the state sales and use tax contribution of the resort industry has increased by nearly 24 percent. According to comprehensive sales tax statistics compiled by the Minnesota Department of Revenue for Explore Minnesota Tourism, there were 955 resorts that contributed more than $13.6 million in state sales and use taxes in 2005.”Resorts in Minnesota play an important role in the state’s economy, tourism product and quality of life” said Explore Minnesota Tourism Director John Edman. “This information shows that resorts are an important part of our state’s tourism mix.”There were 1,378 resorts in the state in 1985, and 1,122 in 2000. In 2000, resorts contributed about $11 million in sales and use taxes. Contributing factors to the decline include a disproportionate loss of smaller resorts and an expansion of the number of units at some of the remaining resorts.Resorting is an ingrained part of the Minnesota travel experience. In fact, Minnesota has more resorts per capita than any state in the country according to infoUSA. The state’s earliest resorts were grand resort hotels on the shore of prominent lakes in what are now the metro and northern areas of the state, including Lake Minnetonka and White Bear Lake. These resorts were built in the mid to late 1800s.Minnesota’s resort tradition remains strong, though the industry is changing. While the number of resorts across the state is declining, the number of resort units has not decreased at the same rate. In the past three years, the number of resorts in Explore Minnesota’s database has declined by 18%; the number of units has declined by only 10%.
To view reports referenced in this release, see http://industry.exploreminnesota.com/research.
About Explore Minnesota Tourism
As the state’s tourism office, Explore Minnesota Tourism pursues an entrepreneurial approach, leveraging the state’s tourism investment with increased involvement by the private sector. A council of representatives from the state’s tourism industry strongly connects Explore Minnesota Tourism with tourism businesses and organizations.
Tourism is a $10.2 billion industry in Minnesota, a key sector of the state’s economy. The leisure and hospitality industry, a major provider of tourism services, employs over 242,000 Minnesotans. More information can be found at http://industry.exploreminnesota.com/research.
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Posted: November 7th, 2007
