Sec. 1.
(1) This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Michigan tourism policy act".
(2) The legislature finds all of the following:
(a) Tourism is a major source of employment, income, and tax revenues in this state, and the expansion of the tourism industry is vital to the growth of the state's economy.
(b) The tourism industry is important to the state, not only because of the numbers of people it serves and the vast human, financial, and physical resources it employs, but because of the benefits tourism and related activities confer on individuals and on society as a whole.
(c) Investment of state resources is needed to provide a more effective means of marketing travel to, and within, the state, and to optimize the considerable investment of time, energy, capital, and resources being made by the tourism industry.
(d) Coordination of existing state government involvement in tourism promotion at the state level and with local government and the private sector will maximize the economic and employment benefits of the tourism industry.
(3) Through this act the legislature intends to encourage all of the following:
(a) A commitment to the fostering of the economic activity inherent in tourism promotion.
(b) Development of a means to promote and market the state as a destination for tourists on a worldwide basis.
(c) Tourism growth to assist this state in remaining competitive in the world tourism marketplace.
(d) Maximization of the contribution of the tourism-related industries to the state's economic prosperity and expansion of employment opportunities.
(e) Recognition of historic, natural, and scenic environments, and the development of cultural and heritage tourism programs and international marketing strategies, to enhance the state's appeal as a destination for domestic and international tourism.
(f) Provision of timely, up-to-date travel and tourism information on urban and rural locations in various regions of the state to enable state residents to take maximum advantage of travel opportunities within the state.
(g) Health, education, and intercultural appreciation of the geography, natural resources, history, arts, and ethnicity of the state.
(h) The welcome entry of individuals traveling to the state to enhance international understanding and goodwill, consistent with immigration laws, laws protecting the public health, laws governing the importation of goods into the United States, and other applicable laws and regulations.
(i) The collection, analysis, and timely dissemination of data which accurately measures the economic impact of tourism on the state in order to facilitate planning in the public and private sectors.
(j) The establishment of a program to market the travel vacation opportunities available in this state to residents and nonresidents by using any medium or means that the travel bureau, in consultation with the travel commission, determines appropriate.
(k) Public interest in protection of the natural resources and the cultural heritage of the state.
(l) Recognition of state and locally managed recreational opportunities including camping, hunting, fishing, boating, snowmobiling, golfing, skiing, and other outdoor recreation experiences.
History: 1945, Act 106, Imd. Eff. Apr. 19, 1945 ;-- CL 1948, 2.101 ;-- Am. 1975, Act 145, Imd. Eff. July 9, 1975 ;-- Am. 1993, Act 109, Imd. Eff. July 16, 1993 ;-- Am. 1994, Act 102, Imd. Eff. Apr. 18, 1994