Tourism Fund

Tourism Fund – The Tourism Fund invests in the Connecticut experience – building vibrant communities, attracting tourists and employers, and boosting our economy.

What is it? The Tourism Fund (TF) is a non-lapsing special fund, separate from the general fund, that is solely funded by a dedicated revenue source.

How is it funded? CT levies a 15% occupancy tax on hotel stays up to 30 days in length. 10% of the total tax revenue collected by DRS is deposited into the TF after every quarter.

What does TF fund? The TF fund invests in arts, culture and tourism through a variety of line items in the budget appropriated by legislators. TF currently funds:

  • CT Office of the Arts (Arts Commission) – *state investment matched by nearly $1M federal National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) dollars
    • Grants to arts and cultural organizations, artists, and community arts projects
    • Statewide initiatives (Arts Workforce Initiative, Arts Day, etc.)
    • Designated Regional Service Organizations
  • CT Office of Tourism (Statewide Tourism Marketing)
    • CTVisit.com, social media, marketing of CT in other states, research and data
    • Statewide initiatives (CT Open House Day, The Big E, Made in CT)
    • Tourism Districts (eastern, central, western)
  • Arts, Cultural & Tourism Direct Line Items (individual organizations and consortiums)
  • CT Humanities – * state investment matched by $800k in federal National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) funding
    • Grants and support services for institutions in the humanities, including but not limited to libraries, museums and historical and cultural societies and associations

How does TF benefit CT? The TF investments provide:

  • Operating support to anchor institutions that drive economic and community development and tourism
  • Program and project support to arts and cultural institutions events, community programs, arts education and local arts projects and initiatives that help attract and retain residents, employers and employees
  • Funding to the Office of the Arts and CT Humanities is re-granted through hundreds of competitive grants statewide reaching nearly every municipality
  • Support for the nine Designated Regional Service Organizations to maintain a statewide network of arts and cultural agencies
  • Tourism marketing to position the state as a prime destination for leisure and business travelers

What is unique about TF? Legislators cannot “sweep” funds from TF, unless this was mandated through legislation and TF, like all special funds, is not subject to potential general fund rescissions from the governor

What if there is more or less money in TF? Revenue collection + deposits into the TF are administrative while the spending + budget process are legislative; meaning:

  • The biannual budget is set legislatively based on the estimated size of TF
  • If TF has more or less money than budgeted for an upcoming year, the governor + legislators will decide how to accommodate for that change during budget process