TO:                      Members of the New Jersey General Assembly

FROM:                Hilary Chebra, Manager Government Affairs, CCSNJ

RE:                       S-3830/A-5689 (Beach/Greenwald/Mukherji/Mazzeo)

DATE:                  December 2, 2021

The Chamber of Commerce Southern New Jersey (CCSNJ) would like to voice our support for S-3830/A-5689 (Beach/Greenwald/Mukherji/Mazzeo) which appropriates $25,000,000 from General Fund to Department of State for travel and tourism advertising and promotion for recovery from COVID-19 pandemic.

The CCSNJ commends the sponsors of this important bill that, if implemented, could provide critical funding to one of the hardest hit industries as it struggles to recover from the pandemic. The tourism industry experienced a significant disruption due to travel and business restrictions that were necessary to stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Congress has acknowledged the unique hardship of the industry and in the recently enacted "American Rescue Plan Act of 2021" it specifically cites the damage to the hospitality industry and requires that 25 percent of the monies appropriated to state, local, and tribal governments be directed to the hospitality industry.

According to the most recent Tourism Economic Impact Study, tourism contributed $16 billion in 2020, representing 2.4 percent of the state’s economy. Visitation fell to levels last seen in 2012, with New Jersey welcoming 84.6 million visitors in 2020 as closings and travel limitations caused a 27 percent drop in visitation. However, even with pandemic employment losses, employment directly supported by visitor spending supported one out of every 24 jobs in the state. With New Jersey currently experiencing the some of the highest unemployment in the nation, it is crucial that these jobs are maintained.

This bill will provide crucial assistance to the industry by providing resources needed to advertise and promote New Jersey’s travel and tourism industry and effectively communicate that the State’s tourism destinations are open, operational, and safe. The bill also includes promoting industries and destinations in New Jersey that have been most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, such as food and liquor establishments across the State.

The travel and tourism industry is crucial to the state’s economy and the CCSNJ respectfully urges you to support S-3830/A-5689 (Beach/Greenwald/Mukherji/Mazzeo).