Representative John Keenan Speaks to Destination
SALEM – Representative John Keenan (D-Salem) will speak this evening at a special gathering hosted by Destination Salem at the new Salem Waterfront Hotel and Suites on Derby Street. At the meeting, Destination Salem will unveil their new advertising and promotional campaign for Salem. A representative from the National Trust will also be on hand as the group will celebrate Salem being named one of America’s “Dozen Distinctive Destinations.” Remarks of Representative John Keenan at Destination Salem
event “First, I’d like to thank Carol Thistle for inviting me to join you tonight for this terrific event. “As many of you already know, I sit on the legislature’s new Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts, and Cultural Development. That this committee was even formed in the first place is a very good indication of how important these issues are to Massachusetts. And we all know how important tourism, the arts, and cultural development are to Salem’s economy, our history, and our character. “Because of the indirect impact of tourism spending on local economies, it is often hard to estimate the true value and effect of the tourism business on Massachusetts’ cities and towns. We do know this, however: effective marketing, smart branding, and active promotion of our cultural assets is the right way to go. The return on investment is overwhelming, both for everyone involved – the private sector, the public sector, and the people. “We know, for example, that every dollar we spend advertising ourselves elsewhere in the country brings in $1.55 in state and local tax revenues. We also know that here in Essex County over 6,600 people are employed directly from the travel and tourism industry. Without question, tourism means revenue and jobs for our city. “Salem has never had a problem attracting people in October. For better or for worse, we will always be known as “The Witch City.” But we have so much more to offer. The efforts of Destination of Salem, to promote all faces of Salem, is commendable and deserves support and discussion. “Being recognized by the National Trust as a distinctive community is a good step in that direction. I was thrilled when I heard about the award and I am pleased that a representative from the Trust is with us tonight to celebrate that honor. “Awards like the National Trust’s do not come from inaction. It is the result of hard work from people like Diane and Dick Pabich, Carol Thistle, and everyone else at Destination Salem. And it’s a testament to the numerous small businesses that comprise the tourism industry of Salem. “Cultural tourism cannot flourish without support. A new committee is certainly a good start. But I look forward to working with groups like Destination Salem to keep the good work moving forward.
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