By Rick Pluta, Michigan Public Radio Network
LANSING, MI –
The state House has voted to use a portion of sales taxes paid by hotels, restaurants and other tourism-related businesses to fund the Pure Michigan ad campaign. The state had to cancel a winter ad buy because it ran out of money. Tourism officials credit the program with keeping tourism afloat during its first full-year run.
The program has wide bipartisan support. Democratic state Representative Dan Scripps.
"We have an incredible story to tell, and the success of Pure Michigan shows that when we tell that story, we capture the imagination of the country," he says. "We have their attention, but one year isn't nearly enough."
The plan would raise up to $40 million to pay for the Pure Michigan campaign. The package now goes to the state Senate, which cannot vote on it before next year.