Tourism tax proceeds up in 2014 goals set for 2015

Jamestown (CSi) 2014 proved to be a good year for tourism in Jamestown, with an increase in tourist economic impact, along with an increase in revenue from the city restaurant and lodging taxes.

On Tuesday’s Wayne Byers Show on CSi Cable 2, Jamestown Tourism Director, Searle Swedlund said, in 2014 the lodging tax revenue was up 8% over 2013, while the restaurant tax proceeds were up 6% over 2014.

Tourism economic impact in 2014 was 2% higher than numbers from 2013.

Swedlund pointed out that traffic at the Frontier Village in 2014, was about steady with numbers from 2013.

In 2015, Swedlund said a goal is to enhance the tourist the tourism experience for visitors, by “bringing the story,” of the area to guests.

Selling the area’s camping experiences is another goal, along with assisting the Jamestown Arts Center expanding to the surrounding area.

Swedlund pointed out that in 2015 the World’s Largest Buffalo statue and the adjacent area will be reassessed for future projects.

He said the new on line calendar is planned to by up in May this year.

Setting groundwork to build another campground in the area is another goal.

In February, the tourism Grant Board will hear from all the agencies that want to express their funding needs in 2015.