APPLETON – Governor Tony Evers aims to boost the state’s tourism industry.

In late March, he announced plans to use $ 50 million in federal COVID-19 aid funds to go to tourism in the state.

Some of the money would go to local tourist attractions like that Trout Museum of Artwhere Evers spoke on Wednesday.

“Tourism is one of our strengths as a state,” he said. “We’re in Appleton today at this beautiful trout museum. It’s part of our DNA as a state, and it’s part of the state that is struggling economically during the pandemic.”

Evers visited the museum on Wednesday morning, his first stop on visits to Appleton and Door Counties to celebrate National Travel and Tourism Week.

The President of the Trout Museum, Christina Turner, took a tour of the Unraveled. Restructured. Uncovered. Exhibition with Evers, Rep. Lee Snodgrass, D-Appleton and Dr. Monroe and Sandra Trout. In 2010 the trout donated their art collection and a foundation to the museum.

Turner said the goal of the museum is to attract people from across the Midwest.

Working with the State Department of Tourism, Evers said he wanted to revitalize the industry by investing in its marketing. The key to getting people to visit is to let them know what to do.

“Our tourism department is working to educate people across the country,” Evers said, “whether it’s museums like this one or water slides.”

With more and more people being vaccinated, Evers hopes they will not only go to museums but also to the small businesses nearby. He has provided $ 600 million in COVID relief funds to small businesses in the state.

“All of these are really connected,” said Evers. “If you look at the street we’re on right now, there are places where tourists would eat, drink and enjoy Wisconsin life.”

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Contact Roshaun Higgins at 920-205-1154 or rhiggins@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @row_yr_boat.