Lawmakers are considering whether to devote more resources to boost tourism in Connecticut after years of tight budgets.
Ideas include devoting more hotel tax revenue for tourism promotion and reopening or expanding the hours of the state visitor welcome centers. There's also a call for overhauling the state's slogan, "Connecticut: Still Revolutionary."
Democratic Rep. Caroline Simmons of Stamford, the co-chairman of the General Assembly's Commerce Committee, says there's a lot of bipartisan support for improving tourism marketing and helping the industry. But she says it has come down to "our difficult budget deficits."
Meanwhile, she says Connecticut is "getting crushed by other states for marketing."
Various advisory groups are pushing for changes, including dedicating 25 percent of the hotel tax to tourism promotion.
The Commerce Committee has advanced various proposals.
