Legislators voted 7-6 in favor of increasing Cayuga County hotel occupancy tax from 3 percent to 5 percent. Due to the absence of two legislators the bill was ultimately defeated; an unfortunate blow to Cayuga County tourism.

With the 2006 U.S. Census showing a steady decline in population and consistent complaints that our area needs more jobs, it's puzzling that such a misfortune would be applauded. The county could stand to gain as much as $125,000 in additional revenue to apply toward promoting the region. The more money applied toward commercial tourism, the greater the receipts. It boils down to accessibility. People can't spend money on attractions that they don't know about. The Harriet Tubman Home and the William Seward House are frequent stops for school buses, but tourists don't make the trip to central New York to visit either landmark. In fact, tourists seem to skip Cayuga County altogether, which is unfortunate because the region has so much to offer.

As a resident, it's easy to say that there is “nothing to do” because we see these attractions on a daily basis. But the Cayuga Wine Trail is a great way for tourists to see the beauty of the Finger Lakes; and what better way to celebrate wine than fine dining? There are plenty of restaurants worth the drive and there are plenty of car, bus and limousine services available and willing to chauffeur. Boating, fishing and hunting is also available, but tourists looking for a rural excursion may struggle to plan such a trip.

In an “I know a guy who knows a guy” system, a market is being ignored. If tourism is to thrive, Cayuga County needs to invest heavily in online marketing. Remember that not everyone lives in a rural setting and New York City and Toronto are less than five hours away. A Web site that is easy to navigate with pre-determined vacation packages is an invaluable tool.

With the second lowest tourism budget in the Finger Lakes region, Cayuga County is forced to compete with more successful tourist areas like nearby Skaneateles. As a village of Onondaga County, Skaneateles hotel guests already pay a 5 percent occupancy tax on top of overnight room rates. By increasing our tax, we can better market our region to commercial tourism.

I encourage the community to support the legislation. Tourists help promote commercial investment outside of tourism by demonstrating to potential investors that Cayuga County is a desirable place to live year round; something that we as residents already know.

Estabrook's column appears Mondays in The Citizen, and she can be reached at estabrookcarole@yahoo.com