Michigan tourism industry seeks $3 million to recover from wildfire smoke losses

In mid-July 2026, Michigan experienced significant economic losses due to wildfire smoke originating from Canada. The Anderson Economic Group conducted an analysis revealing that the smoke cost the state's economy over $4 billion, with the tourism sector being one of the hardest hit. The Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association (MRLA) has responded by requesting $3 million in Pure Michigan promotional funding from the state legislature to help mitigate these losses. Jack Trebtoske, the Director of Government Affairs for MRLA, testified before the Michigan House of Representatives advocating for this funding, emphasizing the need for a fall marketing campaign to attract tourists back to the state.

Trebtoske highlighted that various businesses, from small local shops to larger resorts like Boyne Mountain, were affected by the decline in tourism. He pointed out that many of these businesses rely heavily on summer visitors, making the impact of the smoke particularly damaging. The request for funding comes at a time when the Pure Michigan campaign is facing budget constraints, with this year's allocation reduced to $9 million from $17 million the previous year. Lawmakers have raised questions about the effectiveness of spending on tourism marketing versus addressing the root cause of the smoke, which is the wildfires themselves.