Goofy, Mickey Lobby State Legislators to Restore Office of Tourism Budget : TOURISM / LEISURE TIME

Tourists will always flock to Disneyland, but that didn’t keep Mickey Mouse and Goofy from attending a rally in Sacramento this week to urge state legislators to restore money for the state’s $8-million Office of Tourism.

The Disney stars joined legislators and tourism industry officials in a colorful demonstration on the Capitol steps, according to an Associated Press report.

Carrying signs that said “Restore Tourism, Keep Jobs,” “Keep California’s No. 1 Industry Strong” and “Tourism--$6 Billion in Tax Revenues,” about 250 participants gathered to support the state’s tourism program, which was cut last month from the proposed $43.9-billion state budget.

The office is now in limbo, waiting to see if the Legislature restores the budget before it recesses at the end of August.

The office’s fate is a major concern to the tourism industry--including Disneyland and Knott’s Berry Farm.

“Tourists are a great thing for the state to have,” said Disneyland spokesman Bob Roth, who did not attend the rally. “We’d be disappointed if there is an attitude that tourism somehow is not an important industry in this state.”

At the rally, Assemblyman Charles W. Quackenbush (R-Saratoga), sponsor of a bill to restore the money, accused Democratic legislators of holding the money hostage in a bid to pressure Gov. George Deukmejian into approving a tax increase.

Quackenbush said the nations of Bulgaria and Albania have bigger tourism budgets than California’s and expressed confidence that legislators would vote for his bill, AB3379.

“The state makes money off this thing, it doesn’t cost money,” added Republican state Sen. John Seymour of Anaheim, whose district includes Disneyland.

Advocates said tourism generates $1.6 billion in tax revenue annually, employs 500,000 people statewide and increases tourist spending.

With an annual budget of about $8 million, California’s tourism program competed with states such as New York and Illinois, which spent two to three times as much to lure visitors. If money is not restored, California will be the only state without a tourism office.