In a bleak state budget picture, tourism stands out as the one bright spot. The new state tourism director wants to keep it that way. State Tourism Director John Robinson denies he feels extra pressure to keep the tourism money flowing to the state since the state budget is under so much pressure. Robinson credits a big decision after the September 11th terrorism attack for keeping Missouri tourism growing. He says state tourism officials early on decided to shift promotional money to encourage Missourians to visit their own state. He says the “Rediscover Your Missouri” campaign has proven a success, helping Missouri become one of the few states not to experience a dip in tourism. Robinson says his goal is to capitalize on Missouri’s diversity, which offers a little something for everyone.
