Hinds chairs hearing on state tourism and cultural funding resources
Boston — Sen. Adam G. Hinds, D- Pittsfield – Senate chair of the Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development – chaired an informational hearing Tuesday on the funding of tourism and culture in the Commonwealth at the State House in Boston. The hearing agenda called for testimony by and questions on funding for regional tourism councils, visitor information centers, the Massachusetts Cultural Council and the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism.
“This informational hearing was an opportunity to listen to and learn from key stakeholders in the tourism and arts community on how we as a state invest in the cultural underpinnings of our economy,” said Hinds. “My district hosts dozens of celebrated cultural attractions – Tanglewood, MoCA, The Clark, Norman Rockwell Museum, Barrington Stage, Berkshire Museum, Berkshire Theatre Festival, The Mount, Shakespeare & Company and Jacob’s Pillow – and so many more. Downtown Pittsfield, the City of North Adams and the wider region are direct evidence of how quality museums, galleries, theaters, concert venues and other attractions can revitalize a region and infuse the local economy with new dollars. They also illustrate how critical it is to market those attractions to visitors, both in and out-of-state. As chairman of the Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development Committee, when it comes to securing public funding for these key cultural institutions and marketing campaigns, I want to make sure we get it right.”
Among those who testified were, Housing and Economic Development Secretary Jay Ash, speaking on behalf of MOTT; Advisory Commission on Travel & Tourism chairman Thomas Kershaw; and representatives from the state’s 16 RTCs.
In response to testimony on the funding of RTCs, Hinds pointed to the importance of promoting individual regions of the state. “Marketing the Commonwealth as a whole is important but it’s usually specific parts of the state that capture the attention of potential visitors,” he said. “They’re here for Boston. They’re here for the Cape. They’re here for the Berkshires. That’s why the efforts of the Regional Tourism Councils from all areas of Massachusetts are collectively critical.”
Following testimony from Anne Marie Casey of the North of Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau, Hinds commented on the need to maintain the state’s highway visitor information centers. “These facilities are the gateways to our Commonwealth and provide services that a cell phone simply cannot,” he said. “If we are going to make this shift then we at least need to provide funding to advertise digitally. But, if you’re a senior or you’re traveling through areas with unreliable cell phone service, like much of my district, a physical location with amenities and information on the surrounding region will nonetheless send a strong signal: we welcome you to Massachusetts.”
Tackling questions on how to fund the state’s 11 highway visitor information centers operated by the RTCs, Hinds cited the possibility of public-private partnerships. “We need to get creative on the funding so these facilities are not left without the resources to serve those who have chosen to make Massachusetts their destination,” he said.
The committee has scheduled its next public hearing in Boston on Tuesday, Oct. 31, at the State House when testimony will be heard on all bills pending before it.
