The Missouri Tourism Commission says the state got more value from its tourism advertising in 2010 than in 2009.
The commission presented its annual report to lawmakers Monday. The report showed that visitors spent about $53 for every dollar the state spent marketing tourism in 2010, up from about $47 in 2009.
Commission members say the state Division of Tourism needs more funding so that it can attract more visitors to Missouri as people start to get their jobs back and spend more money.
The Tourism Division's budget is about $13.4 million this fiscal year, and Gov. Jay Nixon is recommending the same amount next year. Most of that goes toward marketing Missouri to people in other states.
The commission says the tourism industry employs about 281,000 people in Missouri.