Branson/Tri-Lakes News: Branson visits down 3% through September

During the December meeting of the Branson Board of Aldermen, the Branson Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce presented its third-quarter marketing report.

According to a city of Branson news release, highlights presented were:

• overall visitation was down 3 percent to 5.7 million visitors for the first nine months of the year compared to 2007;

• the majority of visitors - 59 percent - came from 300 miles away, while 25 percent came from 100 mile to 300 miles away and the remaining 16 percent of visitors came from distances of 100 miles or less;

• sales and tourism taxes were up about 4 percent in Branson through September; and

• the average age of Branson visitors was 55, the same as in 2007.

The numbers are based on the work of Smith Travel Research and local tax revenue data, according to chamber representatives.

The report summarized that a slowing economy, increasing prices and bad weather negatively affected the Branson area for the first half of the year, but economic conditions have kept business sluggish for the past several months and is expected to continue to do so in the foreseeable future.

In 2009, the chamber will spend $8.4 million on marketing, up from the $7.5 million in 2008. Plans are to expand marketing in 2009 into Indianapolis, Atlanta and Minneapolis and to develop and encourage major seasonal events to draw local and regional visitors.

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