INDUSTRY PROVIDES BIG ECONOMIC BOOST FOR AREA

Economic benefits of the travel and tourism industry extend throughout Missouri. The southeast sector of the state realizes a significant financial impact from the industry.

In the 12-county Southeast Missouri area, which includes Cape Girardeau, Perry and Scott counties, more than $1.4 billion is added to the economy from tourism.

Other positive results include the generation of more than 3,400 jobs and more than $41 million in wages and salaries.

In Cape Girardeau County, visitors added more than $36 million to the economy last year by spending money on transportation, lodging, food, entertainment, recreation and incidentals. More than 850 jobs are created by the tourism industry in Cape Girardeau County, generating more than $10.5 million in wages and salaries.

Group tours have become a big plus for the travel and tourism industry.

Nationally, more than 61 million passengers spend more than $14 billion annually for transportation, food, lodging and admissions, according to SEA-Tourism Travel.

Group tours have also provided a boost to the Cape Girardeau area, said a spokesman for the Cape Girardeau Convention and Visitors Bureau. More than 100 group tours have been serviced here each of the past two years.

The visitors center works with tour groups, promoting tours of museums, historic homes and other attractions of interest in Cape Girardeau. More than 5,000 people were included on the 100 tours serviced. That tabulates into a $400,000 economic impact on the city.

Following are totals compiled by the U.S. Travel Data Center for a dozen counties in Southeast Missouri. The county totals were based on the 1992 calendar year.

Cape Girardeau County: Travelers spent more than $36.5 million, directly generating 877 jobs and $10.5 million in wages and salaries.

Bollinger County: $447,670 spent; 11 jobs and $132,687 in wages and salaries.

Butler County: $40.4 million spent; 947 jobs and $11.5 million in wages and salaries.

Dunklin County: $1.2 million spent; 28 jobs; $318,618 in wages and salaries.

Madison County: $1.8 million spent; 40 jobs and $515,400 in wages and salaries.

Mississippi Co., $4.3 million; 128 jobs and $1.5 million in wages and salaries

New Madrid County: $10.2 million spent; 240 jobs and $2.9 million in wages and salaries.

Pemiscot County: $6.6 million spent; 163 jobs; $1.9 million in wages and salaries.

Perry County: $4.1 million spent; 99 jobs and $1.1 million in wages and salaries.

Scott County: $21.9 million spent; 527 jobs and $6.2 in wages and salaries.

Ste. Genevieve County: $11.7 million spent; 281 jobs and $3.3 million in wages and salaries.

Stoddard County: $5.2 million spent; 126 jobs and $1.5 million in wages and salaries.

Southeast Missouri: $1.4 billion spent; 3,467 jobs and $41.4 million in wages and salaries.