Wisconsin Closing Visitor Centers Soon

[pk]

Facing $1.7 million in cuts under Gov. Jim Doyle’s proposed budget, the Wisconsin Department of Tourism is closing its eight visitor centers around the state, including one in Superior.

FULL STORY HERE: Wisconsin closing visitor centers | Duluth News Tribune | Duluth, Minnesota

[pk]

This is to bad that the centers have to close. We try to stop each year to pick up the new info brochures and events for the seasons. We have a center not far from us since we live close to the state line. It will be missed.

[dgridley]

That is a shame.. many people rely on those brochures and maps to find their way around the state.. they'll end up losing tourist dollars because people won't know where to go.

Originally Posted by pk

This is to bad that the centers have to close. We try to stop each year to pick up the new info brochures and events for the seasons. We have a center not far from us since we live close to the state line. It will be missed.

[Kens Digital Media]

Looks like they will close the visitor centers on both sides of me, Superior and Hurley Wi. Looks like the Ashland area visitor center will stay open.

Northern Great Lakes Center - Ashland, Wisconsin - Lake Superior Tourism, Family Fun, and more

[j10asen]

The good part is it may not stop people from visiting our great state. The bad part is it may stop people from visiting our great state.
So we need another way to provide visitors with information so they do visit our great state.

thoughts anyone?

[Latina]

With the world wide web and GPS available to all, i doubt it will stop people from visiting or finding their way through our state, however it does suck & i'm not surprised to see Doyle's name all over that one.

[Blue Baboon]

I never stopped at Wis. tourist centers, but have stopped at ones in other states. Even with my trip planned, I would find other brochures worth picking up and sometimes we would ask about certain attractions in the state. Other times you can find coupons for discounts off admission prices at attractions.

Would there be a way to have brochures available somewhere else instead? Maybe have a computer where people could look up info instead of employing people to help you. Just thinking of cheaper ways to do this instead of getting rid of it all together.

[j10asen]

Originally Posted by Blue Baboon

Would there be a way to have brochures available somewhere else instead? Maybe have a computer where people could look up info instead of employing people to help you. Just thinking of cheaper ways to do this instead of getting rid of it all together.

That sounds like the automated answering systems most companies use. Such as push 1 for english and then you go down a laundry list of menu options.

I for one dislike automated answering system and would prefer to talk to a real person. Thus if I have the option of a company that uses an automated answering sytem versus a manual real person, I will go with the latter every time.

My Logic
If I were visiting from say Iowa and the welcome center in Wisconsin was closed or automated but a wlecome ceneter was open and fully staffed in Minnesota, guess where I would go on vacation?

Now after writting this my techno-thinking has taken over.
All welcome centers are tele-linked to one office where you can still get personal contact but via tele-con calls. You would still have staff but at a reduced level.

That's my imput on this issue. Are you reading this Gov. Doyle?

[Wienigma]

Who gets in their vehicle and drives around aimlessly looking for a place to visit?
As far as a place to pick up brochures, why not use your local library's computer to "map-out" where you want to go instead of wasting paper, gas, and time at a welcome center?
If you get lost, ask a local at the gas station.
There was a time when welcome centers served a worthy purpose, that time has passed in light of people not being able to afford health care and the like. $1.2 million can be and should be put to better use.

[Hawkins]

Wasn't it our Governor Jim Dim Dumb who went to Washington to insure Wisconsin got it's fair share of the Stimulus Package, saying" The Main thing is to bring jobs into the State,not lose what we have." I don't know about anyone else, but I have stopped at those welcome centers many times when people were 5 deep to talk to the staff there.
I listened to some and they were extremely knowlegdable about their sections, and there were no snide comments from people as they were leaving. ( that says something in itself.) Perhaps rather than cut those people, they could cut some of the wasted staff they have at the Capital Building in Madison. I.M.O

[pk]

Tourism is a large part of Wisconsin. So it may seem like a lot to spend on a welcome station just to hand out papers etc. but it's like one of the first impressions when coming into Wisconsin. It also is a great place to stop and ask what is great to see that you may not think to look up when checking out areas on the web. By making sure people have a chance to know what's in our state is a great way to make sure our tourism dollars stay here in our state and not have people by pass WI and go somewhere else. We need to stay attractive to tourist.

I know I live here in Wisconsin and still stop at our closest welcome station once a year just to have things to read and make notes as to what we want to go see during the summer. It's great to have the actual papers/catalogs since many times I take the catalogs etc with me in the van.

[Hawkins]

Originally Posted by pk

Tourism is a large part of Wisconsin. So it may seem like a lot to spend on a welcome station just to hand out papers etc. but it's like one of the first impressions when coming into Wisconsin. It also is a great place to stop and ask what is great to see that you may not think to look up when checking out areas on the web. By making sure people have a chance to know what's in our state is a great way to make sure our tourism dollars stay here in our state and not have people by pass WI and go somewhere else. We need to stay attractive to tourist.

I know I live here in Wisconsin and still stop at our closest welcome station once a year just to have things to read and make notes as to what we want to go see during the summer. It's great to have the actual papers/catalogs since many times I take the catalogs etc with me in the van.

Darn tootin; you and a whole bunch of other Wiscosinites have those things in the center counsel, or map pockets in their cars. I don't care who you are those folks provide an invaluable service to this State, taking away our summer tourist season, or doing something that would cause it to slack off will cost this State more than the taxpayers can afford! ( Jimmy Doyle)

[creazyman]

Really a bad news.But it is seens there is no other way in the economy crisis days





DVDSETSHOP

[kmfarm]

Originally Posted by creazyman

Really a bad news.But it is seens there is no other way in the economy crisis days





DVDSETSHOP

Plenty of other things that could be done.

First of all, the 5 billion dollar shortfall Doyle claims, is a lie. The actual number is 500 million. Quite a bit less.

The 5 billion number comes from this: Doyle asks all the Departments, "What do you want next budget?" They then all submit what they want. Turns out, it's 8% more than last budget. That's quite a jump. So Doyle, in his infinite wisdom, doesn't tell anyone that this is unacceptable and come back with something reasonable, he just uses those numbers to show that we're 5 billion short. That's how he gets the Stimulus money. That's also the excuse to raise taxes.

Here's a thought. Make state employees pay a larger share of their Health Care costs. Just like everyone else. I'm sure that would pay the vast majority of the shortfall. Then, instead of 8% increases in spending, freeze it. Just like everyone else. Or better yet (gasp) reduce spending. OMG! What an epiphany!

It's all lies, slight of hand and PR.

Government at it's best.