Audio File of Radio Address.

MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers on May 23rd, delivered his weekly radio address celebrating National Travel and Tourism Week in Wisconsin. This week, the governor has visited local tourism destinations throughout the state to highlight the state’s thriving travel and tourism industry, including visits to Rooted in Red in Wisconsin Rapids, the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa’s Frog Bay Tribal National Park in Bayfield, and the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame and Museum at Lambeau Field, among several others.

Gov. Evers’ visits also included taking a ride aboard Amtrak’s new Borealis train service that connects St. Paul, Minnesota, to Chicago, Illinois, through the heart of Wisconsin with stops in cities like La Crosse, Wisconsin Dells, and Milwaukee. More on the new Borealis train service is available here.

This year’s National Travel and Tourism Week follows last year’s announcement of a record-breaking year for Wisconsin tourism in 2022. According to 2022 economic impact data, the tourism industry generated $23.7 billion in total economic impact, surpassing the previous record year of $22.2 billion set in 2019.

Since 2020, Gov. Evers has directed investments totaling more than $1 billion of Wisconsin’s federal pandemic relief funds in economic resilience, and more than $200 million of that total was invested in the travel and tourism, hotels and lodging, and entertainment industries alone.

The 2023-25 biennial budget, signed by Gov. Evers, invested approximately $34 million over the biennium to raise Wisconsin’s profile across the country as a premier business, cultural, and recreational destination. This is the largest increase in marketing and advertising funds for the Department of Tourism, and with this investment, the department will be able to run a competitive marketing campaign and keep pace with neighboring states.

Additionally, last November, Gov. Evers announced $36.6 million in grants for building projects across the state in Janesville, Milwaukee, Green Bay, and Door County that were previously rejected by members of the Wisconsin State Legislature in the 2023-25 Capital Budget process. The governor’s investment is projected to support over 400 jobs and nearly $68 million in economic activity. The effort, funded using American Rescue Plan Act funds, will ensure the projects can move forward and build upon Gov. Evers’ and the Evers Administration’s strategic investments that will have long-term impacts on the state’s tourism industry, workforce, and economy.

Hey there, folks. Governor Tony Evers here.

I’m excited this week to be traveling across Wisconsin celebrating National Travel and Tourism Week.

Here in Wisconsin, we’ve got something for everybody, from the shores of Lake Superior to the stages at Summerfest.

Wisconsin’s tourism industry is a big deal, folks—it’s more than a $20 billion industry that supports over 100,000 jobs statewide.

I’m proud of our work to support travel and tourism to bolster our state and local economies like our investments to help expand the National Railroad Museum in Ashwaubenon and the new sports and convention center in Janesville.

I’m also glad our last budget increased Tourism support with about $34 million over the next two years to help raise Wisconsin’s profile nationwide as a premier business, cultural, and recreational destination.

This also included the largest increase in state history in marketing and advertising funds for the Department of Tourism to support a competitive marketing campaign to keep pace with and outpace our neighboring states.

Folks, the success of Wisconsin’s tourism industry is a testament to the hardworking business owners, service workers, and marketing partners across the state who always go above and beyond to showcase the best we have to offer.

And thanks in large part to them, we have a lot to celebrate during National Travel and Tourism Week here in Wisconsin!

From the Ice Age Trail officially being designated a national park and the NFL draft coming to Wisconsin in 2025 to the new Borealis Train connecting St. Paul to Chicago, we’re doing big things here in the Badger State.

So, head to TravelWisconsin.com to find your next Wisconsin adventure. Happy National Travel and Tourism Week, Wisconsin.

An online version of this release is available here.