Published: September 03, 2009 07:41 pm      

Bright spot

Maryland’s tourism numbers are up

Even in the midst of an income-sapping national recession, visitors are flocking to Maryland.

Officials said Wednesday that more than 28 million people made the Free State their travel destination in 2008 — up from 27.2 million the year before.

That means the tourism industry is outpacing national economic and employment trends, with increases this year in room demand, tax revenue and jobs helping to stabilize the state’s economy, Maryland Office of Tourism officials said.

While dealing with a severe budget crunch, Gov. Martin O’Malley said tourism is “one of the bright spots.”

Office of Tourism Executive Director Margot Amelia said the opening of Gaylord National Resort in Prince George’s County, the best Memorial Day weekend in the past 16 years at Ocean City, and regional promotional efforts factored into the upswing.

Though cities like Cumberland are still hurting financially from the loss of Kelly-Springfield Tire Co. and other industries and their substantial wages, we cannot ignore the fact that tourism efforts are paying off.