Written by Steve Segner

SEDONA, Ariz. – Rumors are circulating around City Hall that city funding for the uptown visitor center is in jeopardy.

Here's a little history on this topic. The City of Sedona provided funding for the visitor center. $300,000 to $500,000+ For the past nine years, we have primarily used funds generated by the 2014 0.5% bed tax increase. The 0.5% tax was created to enhance Sedona's marketing efforts to attract high-value visitors while paying needed visitor fees. Services and management of visitor centers etc.

For more than a decade before 2014, the city partnered with the Chamber of Commerce to fund the visitor center from the city's general taxes. Here is the language used to describe funding issues in many of the City's annual budgets through 2014: “The city collects a 3 percent bed tax in addition to the city sales tax. The bed tax supports the general fund. A portion of the bed tax funds the Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center.”

Actual funding for the visitor center from 2005 to 2014 (from the online city budget) is: $563,515 in 2005, $602,732 in 2008, $837,111 in 2009, and $498,113 in 2010. , $478,207 in 2011, $274,500 in 2012

The first visitor center opened uptown in 1956 and served as the headquarters for the Sedona area's emerging tourism economy.

Before the pandemic, it was common for cities to rate visitor centers as follows: “Supported over 280,000 visitors directly at the Visitor Center and over 7,500 via email and telephone. Managed 80 local volunteers and organized 4 training sessions and 12 FAM tours. Volunteers donated 11,076 hours worth $273,000.”

Why would the City Council consider withdrawing funding when there are clear benefits?

• Sedona is Arizona's second most visited tourist attraction, with an estimated 3 million visitors per year. Sedona is important to Arizona's overall economy. The only thing that makes Arizona even more appealing is the Grand Canyon.
• In Arizona, 65 other destinations have private tourist information centers, most of which receive funding from cities, counties, chambers of commerce, or tourism organizations.
• What makes Sedona so smart is that it may be a fraud that does not support the visitor center, which is supported and encouraged by the Arizona Office of Tourism (AOT).
• And this doesn't mean being careful about how the city spends its money. Although his 0.5% bed tax, created in 2014, has reached nearly $1.5 million, more than enough to cover the center's costs and leave enough money for “marketing” and “management.” This is no longer the case. And now the city has become the DMMO, taking over the functions and costs of this type of visitor management responsibility.
• There was even discussion about adding another visitor “welcome” center in West Sedona in late 2019 and early 2020. Prior to the opening of the ranger station in the village, the village had a separate visitor center operated in partnership with the Chamber of Commerce and the Forest Service.

what happened? Here are some facts to consider.

• Last year, more than 138,000 people used the Uptown Information Center to get help or find out about events and places to visit. There is no doubt that these visitors generated sales tax revenue for the city. Before the pandemic, the visitor center had twice as many walk-ins as he did. A gradual return to these levels is expected over time.
• It may seem like a small fraction of the more than 138,000 tourists seeking help out of the millions of tourists who drive to Sedona, but many are visiting the area for the first or second time. The visitor center is a must-see for visitors. And perhaps with additional visitor centers in West Sedona, many more will utilize the services of an official visitor center.
• Even in the age of cell phones and social media, many visitors still need personal support, someone to answer questions, and the ability to browse maps and literature to find things to do and places to see.
• Have you ever visited the mystical landscape of Sedona and needed a guide? More than any other city in Arizona, Sedona respects your needs and supports your travels.
• As travelers ourselves, we've all likely used “visitor centers” in the United States and other destinations around the world.
• If we lose the Uptown Visitor Center, it will not only be a slap in the face to local businesses, but it will also send a message that Sedona city government is not working in the best interests of the local business community, especially Uptown merchants. It's going to happen. .
• Finally, Sedona's public image of being a caring community that truly wants our “guests” to have a great visit is far from perfect if we don't want or care about the quality of their visit. Any outward signs of not doing so will throw you under the bus. Like it or not, this visitor center is a physical representation of Sedona as a tourist destination. It's a “Welcome to Sedona” sign.
• Should the City and Chamber of Commerce develop a long-term management plan to operate the Visitor Center in its current location, assuming the location, design, function, and purpose of the Visitor Center are ideal?

Maintaining services that assist visitors and bring customers to Uptown appears to be reasonable, productive, and supportive of business.

• With 138,000 people using the Uptown Visitor Center, why is the city considering defunding it?
• Why would the city think it doesn't need a visitor center when 65 other Arizona cities maintain them? In these cities and tourist destinations, it is not expected that all travel planning will be done on a mobile phone or home computer.
• Has the city surveyed local businesses to determine whether they are getting real value by featuring their products, restaurants, hotels, and events at the center? Without this valuable feedback, the city would be making an empty decision. There is a possibility that it will be lowered.
• Has the City ever considered who will answer the thousands of emails and phone calls each year from individuals seeking help and information about Sedona? This has always been the role of Visitor Center volunteers and staff.

These are great questions for businesses and residents to ask their city council representatives. https://www.sedonaaz.gov/your-government/Departments/city-clark/council-commissions-committees-boards/city-council/contact-the-entire-city-council

Editor's note : Steve Segner is a Sedona resident and owner of El Portal, a 12-room boutique hotel in Sedona.