(Hartford, Conn. WTIC)-A measure before the legislature calls for increased funding for the arts, tourism and culture.
Under the proposal , a portion of all revenue set aside from the room occupancy rate and spent on culture, arts and tourism would increase to 25-percent. It's currently 10-percent.
Advocates say tourism is an economic driver for the state, ranking it 8th for largest employers, providing more than 150-thousand jobs.
State Senator Paul Formica is the founder of the Tourism Caucus within the legislature. It has fifty members and is growing. He says neighboring states outspent Connecticut on branding. New York spends 80-million, Rhode Island 17-million and Connecticut spends four million.
He testified before the Commerce Committee.