Downtown Branson nets $50K in state marketing funds

According to Tracey Berry, communications administrator for the tourism division, the $50,000 from the division’s cooperative 50-50 matching funds program was awarded to the DBMA July 1 for fiscal 2007.

Requirements to participate in the program include being a destination marketing organization with a specific marketing plan, Berry said.

“There are different levels of funding for different-size organizations,” Berry added.

The DBMA also receives marketing funds indirectly through a 4 percent tourism tax collected by the city of Branson.

“Through a contract between the Branson Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce and the city of Branson, the DBMA has access to $56,000 in reimbursable expenses,” said Cathy Hubert, vice president of finance and administration for the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce and Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Gayla Roten, DBMA executive director, said this year’s marketing budget is

less than half of its $400,000 operating budget.

Out-of-area spending

Roten said the state requires DBMA to spend the funds 50 miles outside of the Branson area.

DBMA plans to piggyback its marketing efforts with the Branson/ Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce and the state tourism division by advertising in inserts in targeted Midwestern metropolitan newspapers.

Roten said the downtown Branson organization also has its own brochure and advertises with AAA.

Downtown Branson at a Glance

These numbers reflect the 2006 activity in downtown Branson.

• An estimated 178,000 visitors attended DBMA-sponsored events and festivals. The four-day Autumn Daze festival was the most-attended event.

• About 2.7 million visitors came to the historic downtown area. Of those visitors, 19.8 percent were first-time travelers to the area.

• The average age of visitors was 57.5 years old, and they stayed in the Branson area for four days.

• About 50,000 visitors arriving by motor coach were greeted in downtown Branson.

• Total estimated retail sales for the historic downtown area were $32 million.

Source: Downtown Branson Main Street Association[[In-content Ad]]