Idaho Travel Council announces tourism grants

BOISE — At its annual summer meeting held in Victor this week, the Idaho Travel Council granted more than $3.2 million in tourism marketing funding to non-profit organizations through the Idaho Regional Travel and Convention Grant Program.

The Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce was among the groups selected to get a grant, receiving $111,137. Also receiving grants were the North Idaho Tourism Alliance, $75,530; Coeur d’Alene Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau, $393,295; Post Falls Chamber of Commerce, $64,058; Idaho RV Campground Association, $6,670; Idaho Outfitters and Guides Association, $5,325; Idaho Ski Area Association, $3,400; and the Idaho Bed and Breakfast Association, $2,265.

The organizations use the awarded grant dollars to promote cities, towns and regions of the state as tourist destinations. Program elements are varied, but often include print and electronic advertising, brochures, travel shows, public relations, direct mail, industry research and the creation of Web sites.

Tourism is a more than $3 billion dollar industry in Idaho, and building Idaho’s economy by increasing visitor expenditures throughout the state is the goal of the Idaho Travel Council and the Department of Commerce’s Division of Tourism Development. The division’s activities are funded by a two-percent lodging tax, paid by travelers and collected by the state’s hotel, motel and private campground owners. Forty-five percent of the funds are used for statewide programs targeted to international and domestic consumers, tour operators, travel agents, travel journalists, and film industry marketing. Another forty-five percent is distributed back to communities through the grant program. The remaining ten percent is used for administration of the division.

Total lodging tax collections for fiscal year 2012 were $7,069,301.