A new economic impact report released by Lt. Gov. Sue Ellspermann and the Indiana Office of Tourism Development (IOTD) documents the growing impact tourism has on the Indiana economy. The report shows travel, tourism and hospitality continues to be the sixth largest industry in the state (excluding government), supports over 187,000 jobs and contributes $10.3 billion in revenue to Indiana businesses. This is the second consecutive year tourism’s economic impact was measured. This study used data from 2013; the most recent year complete data was available.

“The economic impact report for 2013 shows that Indiana’s travel, tourism and hospitality industry continues to grow and have a significant impact on the  Hoosier economy,” said Ellspermann. “This important research is possible through the collaboration between tourism bureaus and IOTD.  County participants now have meaningful tourism data available at the local level.”

In 2013 the travel, tourism and hospitality industry was responsible for 1.5% of total Indiana gross domestic product (GDP), 4.7% of total jobs in the state and 6.3% of state & local tax receipts. The study shows measureable growth over 2012; a year buoyed by Super Bowl XLVI, a seminal event for the state.

Key data points from the economic impact study include:

•      Total Indiana tourism spending in 2013 of $10.3 billion (an increase of $200 million over the previous year).

•      In 2013 visitor spending translating to over $7.9 billion in Indiana GDP.

•      Leisure travelers comprised 85% of total visitors.

•      Direct employment within the Indiana travel, tourism and hospitality industry eclipsing 140,000, making it the sixth-largest industry in the state (excluding government).

•      Indiana tourism generating over $2.2 billion in tax receipts.

•      Indiana visitors contributing $572 million or 8.5% of sales tax receipts.

•      Tourism paying direct wages of over $3 billion to industry employees.

•      Indiana retaining approximately 77% of each dollar spent by visitors.

“Tourism is big business in Indiana and every Hoosier household benefits from a robust tourism economy,” said Mark Newman, IOTD’s executive director. “If visitors stopped coming to Indiana, each household would have to pay an additional $478 in state and local taxes to offset the loss of visitor spending.”

The study was commissioned by IOTD and conducted by Rockport Analytics, an independent market research and consulting company that specializes in economic impact and feasibility studies for the travel, tourism and hospitality industry. The methodology employed by this study is in accordance with industry best practices and aligns economic impact data at the state and local level with rigorous methodological standards that are recognized as the highest in the industry.

The study used data on Indiana visitor spending derived from multiple sources including Longwoods International, Reach Market Planning and U.S. Office of Travel & Tourism Industries. It was then reconciled with Bureau of Labor Statistics reported employment data, Indiana Department of Revenue reported tax receipts and secondary sources such as Smith Travel Research.

Tourism is defined as an overnight stay or a trip greater than 50 miles each way that is not part of an individual’s normal routine.

The attached infographic offers context for some key data points in the economic report. This year’s complete study, as well as last year’s information for comparison purposes, key travel indicators and other information related to the tourism industry, is housed on the Indiana tourism industry websiteVisitIndianaTourism.com.

The Indiana Youth Institute (IYI) is bringing five experts to Sellersburg for a series of training sessions designed for youth workers, teachers, youth ministers, family service providers and others who work directly with children.

The statewide tour will be in Sellersburg on March 11 in Pfau Hall at Ivy Tech Community College in Sellersburg, 8204 U.S. 311, Sellersburg, IN 47172.

The two morning sessions run from 9 a.m. to noon EST and include the following choices:

“Flipping the Resilience Switch.” Christian Moore, the founder of WhyTry, will explain how to get young people to rely on their natural resilience by tapping into the four sources of resilience – street, relational, resource and rock bottom. Christian grew up with severe learning disabilities, sometimes alone on the streets near Washington DC. He uses those experiences to help explain why some people thrive under any circumstances while others crumble under small challenges.

“Keeping Kids SAFE: Screening Mentor Applicants to Ensure Child Safety.” This workshop focuses on characteristics of child predators, the grooming process and the red flags workers need to know to keep children safe. Jen Lindwall is an independent consultant and former director of training and quality assurance at the Mentoring Partnership of Minnesota. She will discuss how the “Screening Applicants for Effectiveness” (SAFE) system helps youth-based groups keep children safe by exploring the latest in child molestation research, wisdom from screening volunteers and recommendations from leading experts on child exploitation

The two afternoon sessions will begin at 2 p.m. and end at 5 p.m. EST. Those options include:

“Fundraising for the Small Shop.” Melissa Brown advises nonprofit groups and spent two decades at the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University (now the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy). Through her experience at the Fund Raising School®, Brown teaches comprehensive, proven fundraising concepts and principles to nonprofit professionals. Her session focuses on smaller nonprofits where staff members may be juggling program, management and fundraising responsibilities. She will help attendees learn the fundamentals of building a fundraising program for a small shop, including the selection of the fundraising vehicles, donors and markets best suited to small nonprofits.

“Graduation and Beyond! How to Help More Students Achieve College and Career Success.”  This session will focus on helping educators and youth-workers more effectively help students achieve their dreams beyond high school. This hands-on session will draw from the new College and Career Mentoring Toolkit. IYI and Indiana Mentoring Partnership consultant Tracy Butler and IYI Director of College and Career Counseling Kate Coffman will share practical skills to help attendees develop a new college and career success program or take an existing program to a higher level.

Other training options include Merrillville on March 3, South Bend on March 4, Fort Wayne on March 5, Evansville on March 10 and Indianapolis on March 12. The cost is $20 to attend one session or $40 to attend two sessions. Individuals can register online atwww.iyi.org/spring2015. Onsite check-in begins 30 minutes before each session.

These trainings are funded in part by Lilly Endowment Inc. and the Nicholas H. Noyes, Jr. Memorial Foundation, Inc.

Statewide support for “Graduation and Beyond!” is provided by the Indiana Commission for Higher Education.

Christian Moore’s training in Indianapolis is sponsored by Indiana University Health.

Additional support for the Ft. Wayne trainings is provided by the English, Bontner, Mitchell Foundation, the Clarence L. and Edith B. Schust Foundation, NIPSCO and Old National Bank.

Additional support for the Merrillville training is provided by NIPSCO.

Additional support for the Evansville trainings is provided by Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Indiana.

The Indiana Youth Institute promotes the healthy development of Indiana children and youth by serving the people, institutions, and communities that impact their well-being.