Tourism pays

COEUR d'ALENE - Tourism is on the upswing in North Idaho and throughout the Gem State.

Idaho's travel industry experienced its best year in 30 years for the 2012 fiscal year, said Karen Ballard, chief tourism officer of Idaho Commerce in Boise.

"We are on a healthy rebound," Ballard said. She said that 2008 was "our very best year," but now Idaho has returned to a productive pace of tourism growth, even better than 2008.

That rebound is reflected in the $3.4 million in grant money the Idaho Travel Council recently awarded various nonprofit, promotional tourism entities across the state. The council made the announcement Aug. 6 at a meeting in Sun Valley, and $704,575 will flow into North Idaho. This brings the amount of grants dispersed up 6 percent from the previous fiscal year.

"It seems by the traffic in our tourist center that we have increased from last year," said Deb Wheeler, operations manager of the Post Falls Chamber of Commerce. "I think we're having a good year."

The money for the grants comes from a 2 percent lodging tax charged to those who stay in Idaho's motels, hotels and private campgrounds, and 45 percent of that money goes back into the region from which it was originally spent.

The Coeur d'Alene Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Bureau received $420,000, an increase of nearly 7 percent over last year's award of $393,295, and 15 percent more than the 2011 award of $364,500.

"We are extremely delighted to again be a major recipient of a significant amount of marketing dollars that will allow us to continue to do the outstanding job we are doing," said Steve Wilson, president/CEO of the Coeur d'Alene Chamber of Commerce. Wilson said he feels that a "great deal of that credit goes to the fact that the pot keeps getting bigger, particularly in North Idaho, and part of that is a result of some of the great work that the CVB does up here."

The North Idaho Tourism Alliance received $81,000, the Post Falls Chamber of Commerce received $66,000 and the Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce received $118,775.

"North Idaho is a rock star in the way they understand and appreciate tourism," Ballard said. "From Bonners Ferry to Coeur d'Alene, it's a really remarkable area to work with for marketing"

State organizations also received part of the funds. In North Idaho, the Idaho Bed and Breakfast Association received $2,411, Idaho Outfitters and Guides Association received $5,669, Idaho RV Campground Association received $7,101 and the Idaho Ski Area Association received $3,619.

The recipients of these grants must match them by at least 12.5 percent. The funds are to be used on marketing and promotional projects, such as placing an Idaho advertisement in an in-flight airline magazine.

Grants are chosen by the eight-member ITC board, which receives the applications and votes on which organizations will receive the funds.

Info: www.visitidaho.org