LANSING – Alpine skiing, snowmobiling, snowshoeing and winery visits are some ways Michiganians enjoy winter tourism in the state.

As a hub for outdoor activity, Traverse City benefits from winter tourism, said Mike Norton, media relations director for the Traverse City Convention and Visitors Bureau.

"Here, we simply switch gears from beaches, golf, boating and hiking to skiing, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, tubing and iceboating," Norton said.

Officials say tourism is a big business for the state. For every $1 spent on tourism promotion, the state gets more than $3 back in taxes.

Areas with amenities such as ski resorts see an increase in winter tourists compared to towns without them, said Jim Bartlett, general manager of Nub's Nob ski resort in Harbor Springs.

Bartlett said in the past seven out of 10 years, Nub's Nob opened during Thanksgiving weekend if there was enough snow, and when there wasn't, the opening was delayed until sometime in December. The resort usually closes during the first week of April.

Nub's Nob is one of three ski resorts in the Petoskey area, with Boyne Highlands in Harbor Springs and Boyne Mountain in Boyne Falls, which contribute to the economic health of the area, Bartlett said.

According to the Traverse City visitors bureau, 45 percent of its tourism volume comes in June though August, while the off-seasons make up the rest.

"Although summer and fall still account for most of Traverse City's tourism business, mid-winter ski and snowmobiling season is a strong second place," Norton said.

Tom Nemacheck, executive director of the Upper Peninsula Travel and Recreation Association, said the group targets its advertising to Great Lakes states and attends consumer travel shows.

Nemacheck said snowmobiling has the biggest economic impact during the winter. While skiing requires hills or mountains, snowmobiling can use flat land, which is everywhere.

In addition to the more traditional outdoor activities such as skiing and snowmobiling, travelers take part in other seasonal activities.

For example, Norton said Traverse City has shopping, cultural and culinary attractions, including more than 100 art galleries and studios, musical and performing art attractions, culinary attractions, wineries, clubs and nightlife and casinos.

There are also events such as the Great Macaroni and Cheese Bake-Off the Sunday after Thanksgiving and the North American VASA cross-country ski event in February, he said.

Ed O'Keefe III, president of Traverse City-based Chateau Grand Traverse winery and vineyards, said the macaroni cook-off offers travelers a way to get out of the house and enjoy themselves.

In addition to hosting the cook-off, the winery has a guesthouse, and there are many bed and breakfasts nearby.
Norton said fall and spring are slowest for the Michigan tourist industry but it's making strides to fill the gap by offering discounts.

"We've shown steady inroads in recent years into the more difficult shoulder seasons," Norton said.

The state has about 40 downhill ski locations, more than 6,000 miles of snowmobile trails and more than 45 wineries.

The Michigan Economic Development Corp. (MEDC), the agency responsible for marketing the state to tourists and businesses, offers information about 11,000 tourism entities on its Web site.

The MEDC is running a regional ad campaign titled Pure Michigan in markets such as Wisconsin, Ohio, and Ontario to attract tourists to the state, said George Zimmermann, vice president, Travel Michigan.