JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Under the proposed state budget pending in the House, the Missouri Division of Tourism will see its funding reduced less than industry people first feared.

Gov. Bob Holden in January proposed cutting the division's appropriation for next fiscal year by 29 percent from the current year.

This fiscal year, the division was budgeted to receive $17.6 million, although $1 million was withheld because of slumping state revenue.

Holden's budget called for $12.3 million in fiscal 2003, which begins July 1. But last week, the House Budget Committee added an additional $1.1 million to Holden's appropriation request for the division.

Tourism industry people are still worried the cuts will diminish the state's ability to attract visitors. The division says tourism generated $12.5 billion last year in Missouri.

The House and Senate must still vote on the state budget, which is required by the state constitution to be passed by May 10.

"We're glad it's been put back, but we're still feeling it should never have happened in the first place," said Faye Bleigh, executive director of the Hannibal Convention and Visitors Bureau. "We're crossing our fingers that (the increase) will stay."

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Department of Economic Development budget bill is HB1107 (Green).

On the Net:

Division of Tourism: http://www.missouritourism.org

Missouri Legislature: http://www.moga.state.mo.us