Malloy seeks to ax tourism offices to cut costs

NEW LONDON, Conn. (AP) — Gov. Dannel P. Malloy's budget plan proposes to eliminate Connecticut's regional tourism offices to save $1.6 million.

The Day of New London reports that some tourism officials question whether the state will continue to provide enough funding to build on Connecticut's "Still Revolutionary" tourism campaign.

Malloy's budget calls for $15 million in tourism funding in 2013 and 2014 while eliminating the state's three regional tourism offices.

Ed Dombroskas, executive director of the Eastern Regional Tourism District, says eliminating the districts would have a serious effect on the tourism industry in the summer. The district includes Mystic, the state's top tourism destination.

Kip Bergstrom, deputy commissioner of the state Department of Economic and Community Development, says officials have been delighted by the progress made in generating tourism-related business.

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Information from: The Day