You asked why some regional tourism districts allow businesses located in another district to advertise in their brochures while other districts do not.

The reason for the difference seems to lie in two competing ideas about the groups the districts are meant to serve. The law that created the five districts suggests that they are meant to serve tourist attractions and tourism–related businesses located within their respective boundaries: districts must “promote and market districts as regional leisure and business traveler destinations to stimulate economic growth” (CGS § 10-397). To achieve this goal, it delineated the boundaries and created district boards.

In marketing and promoting specific attractions and businesses, the districts also serve tourists and business travelers whose interests often transcend district boundaries. In other words, these individuals do not necessarily think in terms of the state-designated districts when looking for a place to stay, eat, and visit. For this reason, one could argue that the districts were designed to help them find these places, regardless of their location.

In practice, only two of the five districts publish advertising materials. The Northwest District (Litchfield Hills) limits its advertising to district businesses and attractions; the Central District (Hartford) does not.

JR: ro