With the fishing opener and the summer vacation season getting into full swing, we talked “tourism” at our roundtable in Duluth last week with hospitality leaders who reminded us that right along with taconite and timber, tourism is the critical third leg of the economic stool here in northern Minnesota.
In the 8th District alone, tourism is a $1.8 billion annual industry that supports some 28,000 jobs – and 3.5 million visitors to Duluth annually. It’s a partnership where government underpins transportation infrastructure—the highways, airports, railroads and harbors that bring people here—private investments support resorts, restaurants, sports, cultural and recreational opportunities–and our friendly, welcoming people make everyone want to return.
In fact, every one of our panelists emphasized the importance of transportation to tourism’s success. Anna Tanski, president of “Visit Duluth” said more than 60 percent of the city’s visitors come from the Twin Cities and arrive via I-35–contributing $8.9 million to the community every year in lodging, food and beverage taxes alone.
Tom Werner, executive director of the Duluth Airport Authority, added that, “Our modern airport and I-35 make it easy for people to come and enjoy Duluth and points north.”
Ken Buehler, executive director of the Lake Superior Railroad Museum, emphasized the importance of building the Northern Lights Express (NLX) high-speed railroad between Duluth and the Twin Cities. “High-speed rail works all over the world,” he pointed out, “and it can work here too.”
Everyone involved in Duluthnorthern Minnesota tourism is excited about the upcoming season. Janelle Jones from the Two Harbors Chamber of Commerce is looking forward to another record summer of hiking and biking at Split Rock Lighthouse State Park, where 320,000 visitors also spent millions of dollars at local hotels, restaurants and shops last year. Ron Johnson from the Duluth Port Authority, Brian Daugherty from Grandma’s Restaurants, Gerry Goldfarb from Holiday Inn & Suites and Dan Russell representing the Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center all echoed the optimism and excitement.
Clearly, northern Minnesota has the right tourism formula–a partnership in which entrepreneurs, government leaders and wonderful, welcoming people create good jobs, good fun and lasting memories for everyone lucky enough to join us “up north” all year around. Hats off to them all.
Congressman Rick Nolan
Minnesota’s Eighth District
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