By Jennifer Larkin, Special Writer
The state is investing more than $1.3 million in the growth and future of the travel and tourism industry, according to officials.
”Tourism is one of New Jersey’s largest and most popular industries, generating $38 billion in economic activity and 312,000 jobs,” Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno said in a press release announcing the grants.
The Princeton Regional Convention & Visitors Bureau is getting a $123,000 grant for the sixth year to promote tourism in our area, according to the organization.
”We work with the colleges and universities and companies to be the go-to organization for local information,” said Adam Perle, vice president of the Princeton Regional Chamber of Commerce.
Locally, the money will be used by the bureau to aid in developing an online marketing strategy that will create profiles for visitors, as well as making online experiences better and more searchable, according to the organization.
Last year, the organization reported using a similar grant to create the visitprinceton.com mobile website for smart phones to access information while on the go.
Tourists spent a record $1.08 billion in Mercer County in 2011, a 10-percent increase over the prior year, according to a recent study by the state’s Division of Travel and Tourism.
The Princeton region included in the grant proposal includes the municipalities of Cranbury, East Windsor, Ewing, Hamilton, Hightstown, Borough of Hopewell, Hopewell Township, Village of Kingston, Lawrence, Montgomery, Pennington, Plainsboro, Borough of Princeton, Princeton Township, Robbinsville, Rocky Hill, Trenton and West Windsor, according to the chamber.
According to the organization, more than 1,700 individuals and 880 businesses make up the regional chamber of commerce.
”This program is a very exciting collaboration and is paramount to growth and the success of travel and tourism in New Jersey,” said Grace Hanlon, executive director of the Division of Travel and Tourism.
A panel with marketing and tourism experience reviews the various applications, which may propose to use the money in different ways, according to the chamber.
”It’s a pretty intensive grant process,” Mr. Perle said, noting the local application was more than 300 pages long and included a multi-level marketing plan. “The independent auditors and the State Division of Travel and Tourism see what we are doing is working.”
The 16th Legislative District, which includes Princeton, is getting a total of $300,000 in grant money, according to Assemblywoman Donna Simon, R-Hunterdon.
”This is an investment in the local economy and job creation,” said Ms. Simon, whose district includes towns in the counties of Hunterdon, Somerset, Mercer and Middlesex.

