Missouri Tourism Commission Commits To Tour of Missouri

Last Friday, the Missouri Tourism Commission committed to the Tour of Missouri in a vote last Friday. Missouri Governor Jay Nixon and his staff is looking to freeze the $1.5 million tourism fund that helps promote the race. Bob Smith cites this is the first time he has seen this kind of interference from an administration when it comes to spending money to promote Missouri tourism.

"The handcuffs that have been put on us have never been put on us before," he said. "I have been around for 27 years and have never seen anything like it."

He is optimistic the third annual Tour of Missouri will begin in St. Louis on September 7, 2009. The event, which costs $3.3 million to host, is partially subsidized by the state and Anheuser Busch, Drury Hotels, and Edward Jones.

German-based sports marketing and research firm IFM, which has offices in St. Louis, 434,000 watched the 2008 Tour of Missouri. Missouri's $1.5 million investment brought in nearly $30 million dollars economic benefit to Missouri in 2008, up from the previous year.

This is an event that Missouri is excited about and that is proven by the increase in economic benefits of over $3.5 million to the state the year before. I know the Tour of Missouri doesn't come through the Ozarks this year, but you will see me, providing Governor Nixon doesn't kill the race, on the side of Missouri roads watching it again this year. I love the Tour of Missouri.