State Official Touts Tourism at EAA

May 9, 2019 - EAA's place as one of Wisconsin's crown jewels of tourism was highlighted on Monday as Anne Sayers, the state's deputy tourism secretary, stopped at the EAA Aviation Museum to kick off National Tourism and Travel Week, which runs through Saturday.

State officials noted that tourism means more than $21 billion in economic impact each year. Part of that is the estimated $170 million of economic impact that EAA AirVenture Oshkosh brings to the Oshkosh region annually, as well as the year-round attraction of the EAA museum and other events on the grounds.

"The [number of] visitors that EAA attracts in a single event is huge and we love to see that kind of excitement," Sayers said. "The museum also drives visitors to Wisconsin year-round, so we have visibility across the seasons."

Sayers was joined by Oshkosh tourism officials as well as state legislators during the museum visit. One highlight was a flight in EAA's 1929 TravelAir biplane from Pioneer Airport — the same flight is available to the public during the seasonal operations at Pioneer that began last weekend.

"It was amazing," Sayers said afterward. "Seeing all the water from up there is just beautiful."

"EAA members can be proud of their organization as a showcase for aviation throughout the year, something recognized by Wisconsin’s top officials," said Dick Knapinski, EAA’s communications director. "It's another way of fulfilling EAA's mission of growing participation in aviation through sharing The Spirit of Aviation."