LANSING, Mich. — From school trips to the Capitol, to games at MSU.
There are many reasons to visit the Greater-Lansing area.
“Whether they're coming here or going further up the state they're likely coming through here,” said Jack Schripsema, CEO and President of the Greater Lansing Convention and Visitors Bureau.
“Being the headquarters of the state government is a tremendous asset.”
According to the CVB, the region welcomes 4.8 million visitors a year, pumping over $600 million into the local economy.
The organization works with Pure Michigan to promote their members and events but the ad campaign was axed from the state's budget.
“The Pure Michigan campaign I think lifts all the boats throughout the Michigan,” Schripsema said.
“Hotels and restaurants and attractions, museums and there are thousands of people that work in this industry that rely on their livelihood for tourism.”
Governor Gretchen Whitmer vetoed the line item for the tourism brand, cutting the budget from $37.5 million to zero.
The veto can trickle down and strike local businesses that rely on tourism, like Impression 5 Science Museum.
Erik larson, impression 5 executive director:
“This past 12 months we had 170,000 on-site visitors from all 50 states, from all but two Michigan counties,” said Impression 5 Executive Director Erik Larson.
“Lansing has a true tourism destination magnet. I mean we have phenomenal assets here that draw people from all over the country.”
The Governor's office released a statement to FOX 47 News saying the governor supports Pure Michigan.
She had allocated $31 million for the campaign in her executive budget, but without support from republicans tough decisions had to be made.
The statement says the governor is willing to negotiate.
The governor and the legislature would have to pass a supplemental bill to restore funding to Pure Michigan.
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