34:1A-46 Legislative findings and declarations.

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2. The Legislature hereby finds and declares that:

a. Increased revenues for this State and more employment opportunities for its citizens will result from the proper promotion throughout the United States and the world of the many tourist attractions which New Jersey has to offer to vacationers and travelers.

b. Such proper promotion--and the desired expansion of tourism in New Jersey--will be enhanced by the formulation of a master plan for the development of the tourist industry throughout New Jersey.

c. It is an objective of State programs, agencies, and resources to provide an optimum of satisfaction and high-quality service to visitors, to protect the natural beauty of New Jersey, and to sustain, promote, and expand the economic health of the tourist industry in a manner and to the extent compatible with such goals.

d. Because of the crucial importance tourism plays in New Jersey's economy, the Department of State is therefore charged with the mandate to increase tourism through promotional, informational, educational, and developmental programs. These initiatives are to be designed to support a State policy of maintaining and increasing New Jersey's standing as a premier national and international travel destination. To implement this policy, the Department of State shall create advertisements for use on television, radio, the Internet and in print, to promote the State's diverse appeal to prospective national and international vacationers and travelers as part of its advertising, public relations, and marketing campaign.

In addition, as required pursuant to section 9 of P.L.1977, c.225 (C.34:1A-53), the Division of Travel and Tourism shall annually review the 10-year master plan developed pursuant to section 8 of P.L.1977, c.225 (C.34:1A-52) by the director of the division with the assistance of the New Jersey Tourism Policy Council, and submit a report to the Governor and Legislature containing an evaluation of the preceding year's activities and developments in tourism and the revisions recommended in the master plan.

e. In the advancement and promotion of New Jersey's tourism industry, it is necessary to require that the division report semiannually to the Governor and the Legislature on the efforts of the division to promote tourism in New Jersey and on the expenditure of funds allocated to tourism advertising and promotion from hotel and motel occupancy fees pursuant to section 2 of P.L.2003, c.114 (C.54:32D-2). As tourism may be particularly sensitive to changing economic conditions, a frequent review of the State's tourism planning and activities may necessitate revisions in the State's tourism policy to further encourage tourism promotion and to otherwise meet the challenges of implementing this policy.

L.1977, c.225, s.2; amended 2005, c.378, s.1; 2007, c.253, s.1.