Funding for the city's Tourism Marketing District that has brought in 112 million in money from lodging room fees remains uncertain. City councilmembers who last November agreed to hand the city control over operations for five years have to work with the administration to fund the district San Diego depends on to keep local tourism well known.
The delay since the TMD was renewed this January 1st holds up promotional activities run by the San Diego Convention and Visitors Bureau that ensure tourists will get attracted to the city and spend money that supports the 160,000 jobs in the industry. The TMD money can not get spent on the bureau.
A thriving industry, one that is San Diego's second largest traded economy, has increased optimism on a economic recovery that reaches a high mark in San Diego. One out of 8 jobs are found in the industry. More than half the worker who work in the industry earn middle class wages. Restaurant servers earn two to three times the minimum wage.
Far more money is made in the tourism industry than spent to invest in the industry's enterprise. Twenty thousand jobs were supported by the well funded industry in 2012.
Growth between 2008, the year the TMD was formed, and the end of 2012 helped stabilize the recovery. The growth is expected to continue through the 1st quarter, and increase district revenues.
Promotional activities can continue once the operating agreement is signed in the Mayor's office and the district budget for the first half in 2013 approved by the council. San Diego has to stay competitive with Los Angeles, that formed a TMD in 2012, and Anaheim that took control over a tourism market share with the Disney Cars Land addition.
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