Delaware Tourism Industry Study Results

2010 Analysis Substantiates the Value of Tourism to First State

DOVER – A study was conducted by D.K.Shifflet & Associates Ltd. and Vantage Strategy, a research firm and consulting firm respectively, to determine the economic impact of tourism in the State of Delaware. The study shows that the tourism industry is a principal economic driver in Delaware and substantiates the value of the tourism industry to the First State. Key points stemming from the 2010 study are reflected in the quotes below and subsequent facts.

“The tourism industry stands strong as the third largest private employer in Delaware and an important part of our local economy,” said Governor Jack Markell. “Visitors to our state contribute to our economic well-being by helping to create jobs at all income levels. They cultivate local businesses and communities and contribute to a greater quality of life for all Delawareans.”

“Delaware tourism has grown to a $2.1 billion industry that employs 39,000 people and attracts over 7 million visitors to the First State each year,” stated Alan Levin, Director of the Delaware Economic Development Office. “If the tourism industry can achieve sustainable growth during challenging economic times, just imagine the potential that the future holds.”

“In 2010, tourism generated $400 million in state and local government taxes and fees,” said Linda Parkowski, Director of Tourism, Delaware Tourism Office. “Each Delaware household would pay $114 more in taxes each year to maintain current levels of state and local taxes without the benefit of tourism in the First State.”
The Delaware Tourism Office, 99 Kings Highway in Dover, DE, a division of the Delaware Economic Development Office, promotes tourism and economic growth in Delaware. For more information, visit the official Delaware Tourism website at www.visitdelaware.com or call toll-free (866) 284-7483.

2010 FACTS: VALUE OF TOURISM IN DELAWARE

Tourism’s total contribution to Delaware’s 2010 Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the total market value of goods and services produced by the State’s economy, is $2.1 billion.
Delaware’s 2010 Gross State Product (GSP) grew at roughly half the rate of Delaware Tourism.
The Delaware tourism industry is the third largest private employer in the state, employing 39,000 people.
In 2010, more than 7 million people visited Delaware.
A total of 1.5 million people traveled to Delaware on business and 5.6 million traveled for leisure.
Tourism generated $400 million in state and local government taxes/fees in 2010.
Delaware state and local tourism tax revenue grew at nearly twice the rate of overall state tax receipts in 2010.
Without tourism in Delaware, each Delaware household would pay $114 more in taxes to maintain current levels of state and local taxes.
The average visitor spent $545 per trip in 2010.
About $98 per visitor represents tax receipts.
The top 2010 spending categories and visitor activities were shopping and dining.
On average, the typical 2010 visitor to Delaware was 47 years of age with a household income of $94,322 which was higher than the national average.
The top 2010 markets of origin included surrounding metropolitan areas in the Mid-Atlantic region.
The top 2010 origin states included states along the East Coast with a concentration in the Mid-Atlantic region and as far away as upstate New York and the State of Florida.
Seasonal homes increased 40% from 2000-2010 and account for over 28.3% of all housing units in Sussex County.
Had seasonal home rental spending been subject to Delaware’s Public Accommodation Tax, an additional $72 million in state revenue would have been generated in one year.

Resources: D.K. Shifflet & Associates Ltd and Vantage Strategy. For a full study report, visit www.visitdelaware.com/about-us/tourism-statistics/.

Markell: President’s Proper Focus on Jobs and the Economy

Wilmington, DE – President Obama offered several compelling proposals in a State of the Union address that properly focused on jobs and the economy, Governor Jack Markell said shortly after the speech.

“The President made clear that our nation’s most compelling need is to keep making progress on jobs and he offered a clear path forward,” Markell said.

Last week, Markell delivered a State of the State that focused on expanding economic opportunity, improving schools and governing responsibly at the state level. He made clear that a renewed federal commitment to the economy is critical to states.

“We can – and do – focus every day on getting people back to work, but the economic health of our states, our cities and our small towns depend a good deal on the direction of the national economy. The President made clear that while there’s been some real signs of progress, we can’t afford to stop fighting.”

Markell echoed the President’s hope that Washington could find a way to work together to make progress.

“There was a clear difference between the positive plans laid out by the President to help our nation’s middle class succeed and the anger, negativity, and attacks offered during his opponents’ debate the night before,” Markell said. “The stakes are too high to let divisions get in the way of progress.”

DUI Checkpoint Set for January 27th

DOVER – The Checkpoint Strikeforce campaign has set a DUI checkpoint for Friday, January 27th. The checkpoint will be conducted by the New Castle County DUI Task Force, in Wilmington.

The Checkpoint Strikeforce campaign is a crackdown on impaired driving. Delaware will conduct two DUI checkpoints each month until July, when weekly DUI checkpoints will resume. This campaign is aimed at removing impaired drivers from our roadways and deterring those who might otherwise choose to drive after drinking alcohol or using drugs.

The Office of Highway Safety reminds motorists that traffic deaths kill and injure Delawareans nearly twice as often as violent crimes.

For more information on Checkpoint Strikeforce visit www.ohs.delaware.gov and follow regular campaign updates on Twitter at www.twitter.com/DEHighwaysafe and Facebook www.facebook.com/ArriveAliveDE.

Governor’s Weekly Message: Delaware’s Time to Lead

DOVER – In his weekly message, Governor Markell talks about his fourth State of the State Address, which he delivered to a joint session of the General Assembly on Thursday. He made clear that to lead in the future, Delaware must stay focused now on creating more jobs, making our schools stronger and governing responsibly.

“As tempting as it might seem to take this moment to pause and catch our breath, this is not the time to stand still,” said Markell. “We can take advantage of this moment and build a lasting competitive edge for our State and its people, we must do more than simply work with, rather than against, each other. Together, we must act with confidence and imagination.”

Markell offered new proposals and updated the legislature on some successful efforts underway to get people back to work, ensure more Delaware children graduate ready to succeed and make government a sounder steward of state resources.

“We cannot settle for an economy that is dependent on a handful of major employers. We will nurture an environment where start-ups and small businesses can experiment and thrive.”

Some of the proposals included efforts to further support emerging start-ups and growing companies by applying best practices found at entrepreneurial support centers across the country and helping existing small businesses get access to credit through the federal Small Business Credit Initiative, as well as other innovative ways to give small businesses the edge.

Transcript of the Governor’s Weekly Message: Delaware’s Time to Lead

Weekly Message Video: http://youtu.be/2mKqSkt_VRY
Video of the full State of the State Address: http://youtu.be/0HYWOhuLufw
More information on the State of the State: https://news.delaware.gov/2012/01/19/delawares-time-to-lead/

About the Governor’s Weekly Message:

At noon every Friday, the Governor’s office releases a new Weekly Message in video, audio, and transcript form. The message is available on:

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/GovernorMarkell
Delaware.Gov: http://governor.delaware.gov/information/podcast_video.shtml
By email: Please contact our press team to subscribe to our press list
Facebook: www.facebook.com/governormarkell
Twitter: www.twitter.com/governormarkell

Governor’s Weekly Message Transcript: Delaware’s Time to Lead

This is Delaware’s time to lead. Creating more and better jobs. Improving our quality of life.

Providing the best schools and learning opportunities for our children. Getting the most out of each tax dollar. Strengthening the trust of our people in their government. These are challenges even in ordinary times. We don’t live in ordinary times.

This week, I delivered my State of the State address and in it, I talked about that change and challenges that accompany us each day. As tempting as it might seem to take this moment to pause and catch our breath, this is not the time to stand still.

We can take advantage of this moment and build a lasting competitive edge for our State and its people, we must do more than simply work with, rather than against, each other. Together, we must act with confidence and imagination.

We cannot settle for an economy that is dependent on a handful of major employers. We will nurture an environment where start-ups and small businesses can experiment and thrive.

We cannot settle for schools that are better-funded versions of the schools we remember from 20 years ago. We will help the schools that will prepare our children for the jobs 20 years from now.

We cannot settle for the sick care system we inherited from our parents. We will create a health care system that pays for performance and delivers quality care at a price that families and taxpayers can afford.

This is our time. To look ahead. To leap ahead. To lead.

I thank each of you, the people of Delaware and the state employees who serve them, for your support over these past three difficult years and all you have done by working together to keep Delaware moving forward.