More visitors are "enjoying the show" Missouri offers and "feeling the history" in Jefferson City.
Soaring tourism numbers - and the economic benefits - were reported last week by both state and local officials. The theme for the Missouri Division of Tourism in "Enjoy the Show" and the Jefferson City Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) uses the slogan, "You'll Feel the History."
Statewide, Gov. Jay Nixon announced Missouri hosted a record 40.4 million visitors during fiscal year 2015. Nixon said those visitors spent more than $12.4 billion and supported more than 297,000 jobs.
Those statistics, the governor added, marked a nearly 30 percent increase since he took office as governor in 2009.
Locally, the CVB reported more than 25,000 people toured the Missouri State Penitentiary (MSP) site in 2015. The total marks the most successful year since tours began in 2009.
CVB officials said the 2015 tours netted a profit of $183,000 - revenues of $522,473 minus expenses - an increase over the 2014 net profit of $82,000.
About 40 percent of the profits will finance additional repairs at the prison site, with the remaining used for marketing and future repairs, as outlined in an agreement for the city to host tours at the state-owned property.
Regarding the statewide numbers, Nixon said research shows Illinois and Kansas as the top two tourist-generating states for Missouri. He also reported an estimated 400,000 international travelers visited our state in 2014.
Among Missouri's attractions, the governor highlighted "outstanding outdoor assets," including the state's "nationally recognized state parks system, abundant historic sites and more than 1,000 miles of trails."
What is worth remembering is these attractions aren't only for visitors from other state or other countries.
Among tourism slogans, a number of cities emphasize the theme: "Be a Tourist in Your Own Town."
When was the last time you toured the Capitol or MSP site? When was the last time you visited one of the local museums or strolled along one of the many trails in our community?
These attractions provide opportunities for residents and visitors alike to enjoy, learn and meet interesting people.