The Michigan Tourism Index for the first quarter of 2007 was down 2.4 percent from the prior year.   The Michigan Tourism Index, which is compiled by Comerica Bank, is a quarterly summary of five seasonally adjusted travel and lodging data, including lodging occupancy rates, vehicular traffic, air traffic, Mackinac Bridge crossings, and museum visits.  It serves as an indicator of statewide tourism activity.

According to Dana Johnson, Chief Economist at Comerica Bank, "the downward drift in our tourism index since mid 2003 reflects the overall weakness of the Michigan economy.  The majority of the money spent on travel and entertainment is by residents of the state. Many of our citizens have chosen to cut back on travel, given the back drop of job losses, weak income gains, and sky high energy costs."

The Northern Michigan real estate market has been experiencing weakness as well over the past several years, which is most likely also reflective of the weakness of the Michigan economy.  Apparently what's bad for tourism is also bad for our local real estate market, which makes sense given that tourism drives our economy in Northern Michigan.