The state(s) of tourism spending
Travel and tourism can be big business for many states—and not just the usual vacation suspects, such as Florida and Hawaii. For example, Michigan's "Pure Michigan" promotional campaign attracted 4 million holiday-makers spending $1.2 billion to the Great Lakes State in 2013, according to research firm Longwoods International. Not surprisingly, then, state governments apportion a fair amount of money to marketing and promoting their attractions and destinations to potential visitors both abroad and here at home in the U.S.
CNBC takes a look at the 10 states that had the biggest tourism advertising and promotion budgets for the 2013–14 fiscal year, the latest figures available from the U.S. Travel Association. To add some context as to how much bang each state got for the tourism promotion bucks it spent, we also note its standing in terms of popularity with both American travelers and overseas visitors in 2014, according to, respectively, online accommodations emporium HotelsCombined.com and the U.S. Department of Commerce. (Note: Overseas figures exclude visitors from Canada and Mexico. Latest Alaska overseas ranking available is for the year 2000.)
—By CNBC's Kenneth Kiesnoski
Posted 07 July 2015
10. Alaska
Total advertising and promotion budget: $18,074,612
(Source: U.S. Travel Association)
Popularity ranking/U.S. visitors: No. 34
(Source: HotelsCombined.com)
Popularity ranking/overseas visitors: No. 36
(Source: U.S. Department of Commerce)
Caption: The Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center in Girdwood is home to local wildlife, such as moose (pictured) and musk oxen.
9. Virginia
Total advertising and promotion budget: $18,609,264
(Source: U.S. Travel Association)
Popularity ranking/U.S. visitors: No. 6
(Source: HotelsCombined.com)
Popularity ranking/overseas visitors: No. 18
(Source: U.S. Department of Commerce)
Caption: A young visitor goes "colonial" at Jamestown Settlement and Yorktown Victory Center in Williamsburg, Virginia.
8. Arizona
Total advertising and promotion budget: $23,286,654
(Source: U.S. Travel Association)
Popularity ranking/U.S. visitors: No. 8
(Source: HotelsCombined.com)
Popularity ranking/overseas visitors: No. 12
(Source: U.S. Department of Commerce)
Caption: Saguaro cactuses frame a view of the skyline of downtown Phoenix.
7. New York
Total advertising and promotion budget: $30,709,688
(Source: U.S. Travel Association)
Popularity ranking/U.S. visitors: No. 5
(Source: HotelsCombined.com)
Popularity ranking/overseas visitors: No. 1
(Source: U.S. Department of Commerce)
Caption: Visitors inspect the American Falls at close range at the Cave of the Winds attraction in Niagara Falls, New York.
6. Michigan
Total advertising and promotion budget: $32,306,752
(Source: U.S. Travel Association)
Popularity ranking/U.S. visitors: No. 31
(Source: HotelsCombined.com)
Popularity ranking/overseas visitors: No. 20
(Source: U.S. Department of Commerce)
Caption: Sunset over downtown Detroit
5. Texas
Total advertising and promotion budget: $43,361,910
(Source: U.S. Travel Association)
Popularity ranking/U.S. visitors: No. 4
(Source: HotelsCombined.com)
Popularity ranking/overseas visitors: No. 6
(Source: U.S. Department of Commerce)
Caption: A cowboy tries his hand at lassoing in Alpine, Texas.
4. Illinois
Total advertising and promotion budget: $53,288,293
(Source: U.S. Travel Association)
Popularity ranking/U.S. visitors: No. 18
(Source: HotelsCombined.com)
Popularity ranking/overseas visitors: No. 8
(Source: U.S. Department of Commerce)
Caption: Tourists embark on an architecture-themed boat tour on the Windy City's Chicago River.
3. California
Total advertising and promotion budget: $64,469,786
(Source: U.S. Travel Association)
Popularity ranking/U.S. visitors: No. 1
(Source: HotelsCombined.com)
Popularity ranking/overseas visitors: No. 3
(Source: U.S. Department of Commerce)
Caption: Seaside street art and palm trees in Venice Beach, California
2. Florida
Total advertising and promotion budget: $69,487,006
(Source: U.S. Travel Association)
Popularity ranking/U.S. visitors: No. 2
(Source: HotelsCombined.com)
Popularity ranking/overseas visitors: No. 2
(Source: U.S. Department of Commerce)
Caption: Art deco–era hotels line Ocean Drive in the South Beach section of Miami Beach, Florida.
1. Hawaii
Total advertising and promotion budget: $82,000,000
(Source: U.S. Travel Association)
Popularity ranking/U.S. visitors: No. 10
(Source: HotelsCombined.com)
Popularity ranking/overseas visitors: No. 4
(Source: U.S. Department of Commerce)
Caption: A surfer fresh off the waves calls it a day in Honolulu.
