Joyce L. Miller
joyce.miller@lakesunonline.com
Tourism representatives are looking to Branson, the lake’s neighbor and top competitor, for ideas on how to increase funding for marketing.
Visitors to the Branson area not only pay a 4-percent tourism tax on lodging, restaurants and theater tickets, but an extra retail sales tax of 1 percent is added on top of that.
According to Tim Jacobsen of the Lake of the Ozarks Convention and Visitor Bureau, a retail sales tax designated for tourism-related promotions might be an option that lake area voters would approve.
Branson’s retail sales tax is 1 percent. It generates an estimated $7 to $8 million dollars annually.
Jacobsen said the monies generated by the tax are used for promoting the Branson area.
Several years ago, Branson tourism officials found themselves being outspent by their competitors, such as Myrtle Beach, Nashville the Wisconsin Dells and Pigeon Forge. The retail sales tax was the solution.
Jacobsen said tourism representatives will be meeting in the fall to discuss the possibility of taking a retail sales tax proposal to the voters.
This could be the solution to the need for additional marketing funds for Lake of the Ozarks, he said.
“This effort is in the beginning stages and there will be some time before this reaches the public for a decision,” Jacobsen said. “We will first have to meet with all our local business leaders, community leaders, municipalities and tourism officials in the lake area to determine if this effort is something they want to pursue and how to go about it.”
There would also be a campaign to educate the voters on the need for additional funding for tourism, he said.
Jacobsen estimates at least a 5-year plan to execute the effort.
Lake tourism-related tax numbers
2% In 2008, Tri-County Lodging Association asked voters in all three counties to approve a 2-percent increase in the lodging tax.
3% At that time, TCLA was collecting a 3-percent lodging tax in all three counties. The measure passed in Miller County and increased the tax to 5 percent. Camden and Morgan county voters said no.
2nd In 2009, Camden County voters said no a second time. The tax would have generated an additional $700,000- $800,000 a year.
$1.5M TCLA collects between $1.5 and $1.6 million each year in the three districts that are included in TCLA. Of the three, Camden County is the largest business district.
$60K Approximately $60,000-$80,000 of their budget goes to special events held at the lake such as the Shootout, fishing tournaments, car shows and other events.
$800,000-$900,000 goes toward magazine, newspaper, television and radio advertising. A portion goes to the Convention and Visitor Bureau.
