The state’s Pure Michigan ads have received widespread
praise and international recognition – and generated immense pride among
Michiganders — for years, but it appears that the state’s efforts to boost
tourism are actually fairly mediocre.

Dennis Lennox, a freelance writer and somewhat of a world
traveler, writes in today’s Detroit News that Michigan’s method of attracting
tourists is lacking on many fronts.

Lennox notes that our tourism bureau, Travel Michigan, is a
small, obscure agency located within the Michigan Economic Development Corp.; other
states have a Cabinet-level tourism department. Other states bordering Canada offer
sales tax credits to lure shoppers from across the border; Michigan offers
no incentives.

Here’s
a taste of Lennox’s column:
“Making things worse are the patchwork of local tourism offices and visitor bureaus scattered across Michigan. This convoluted structure creates overlap and inefficiencies.

“Take last month’s World Travel Market in London, arguably the
industry’s largest trade show. While other states, cities and counties
exhibited alongside international destinations, Michigan was out of
sight. Its only presence (was) copies of the Detroit Metro Convention &
Visitors Bureau magazine and a homemade-looking DVD at the booth of
Great Lakes USA, a joint venture with Illinois, Minnesota, Ohio and
Wisconsin.

“A few days later, came news that Detroit would star in next year’s
Pure Michigan campaign. It sounds great, but is about three years too late.

“… The difficulty of getting to Detroit complicates long-term growth.
While a hub for Delta Airlines, direct international flights are
limited. Toronto and Chicago have many more options. It also doesn’t
help when Delta seemingly neglects Detroit as it expands into Seattle,
despite Metro’s strong passenger rankings.”

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