Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer (R) is forming a task force of tourism and business leaders to push back against what she calls “mistruths” about the state’s controversial new immigration bill. The task force will also look for ways to encourage tourism in the face of nationwide calls for boycott, according to an AP report.
“The bottom line is there are a lot of mistruths about the bill,” Brewer told the AP. “You’re not going to walk down the street and get questioned unless you’ve committed a crime.”
Brewer meet with tourism and business leaders on Thursday to discuss strategies for rebranding the state. The state is providing $250,000 in initial funding for the campaign, which will, among other things, encourage Arizonians to vacation in their own state.
Debbie Johnson, president of the Arizona and Lodging Association and president of the Arizona Tourism Alliance, said proposed boycotts would only hurt “the 200,000 families that are trying to make a living” in the Arizona tourism industry.
“The end goal is to reassert that we are a safe, inviting, diverse and culturally aware community,” Steve Moore, president and CEO of the Greater Phoenix Convention and Visitors Bureau, told The Arizona Republic.
“We want everyone to continue to come here,” Brewer said.
Well, not everyone…
