News

As you may have read in the newspapers, Johnson County is one of two doughnut counties and one of 23 counties in Indiana that does not have a county-wide convention and visitor bureau (CVB). The Johnson County chambers of commerce serve as the local welcome centers and respond to information inquires from people and companies seeking-out Johnson County. Unfortunately, our resources do not allow us to proactively market Johnson County’s tourist attractions and destinations outside of our immediate area. Therefore, the Franklin and Greater Greenwood Chambers are encouraging our elected officials to create a Johnson County tourism bureau which is funded through a county Innkeeper’s tax – the special tax out-of-town guests pay on overnight stays at local hotels, motels, inns, and campgrounds. We are asking our elected officials to provide Johnson County the same opportunity for increased economic development associated with tourism promotion that 65 other Indiana counties enjoy.

A recent Ball State University study reports that for every $1 in CVB expenditures, the local economy can expect to receive at least $150 in additional tourism-related industry income in the same year that $1 was spent. Specifically, the report finds that for each $1 in Indiana CVB expenditures, incomes in the following tourism-related industries increase incrementally: Accommodations $16; Arts and Recreation $38; Amusement and Gambling $5; Food Service $65; General Merchandise $23; and Museums and Historical $3.

We believe that Johnson County has a competitive advantage. We have found that Johnson County has a significant number of exciting destinations that directly support the top five reasons people visit Indiana. We also believe that our proximity to Marion County, who has the second-highest hotel tax in the Unites States, plays to our advantage because we can capture the attention of travels coming to Indy for national events but are interested in exploring other local options. The Chambers are working with our local county-elected officials, hotels, tourism attractions, and other interested businesses to find a way to bring about tourism promotions – and increased economic activity – to our County. We have the support of each and every city and town in Johnson County. We are returning to County Council on Monday, November 9 to ask them to adopt the Innkeeper’s Tax for Johnson County and create the additional economic activity our community needs.

If you would like to help the Chambers advance this effort, contact your County Councilor and ask him or her to support the Johnson County Innkeeper’s tax and CVB. (You can find a list of their email addresses at here.) You can also contact Christian Maslowski at the Greater Greenwood Chamber to find out other ways you can help. Email him at Christian@Greenwood-Chamber.com or call (317) 888-4856.