Minnesota Statutes Business Development (Ch. 116R-116W) § 116U.30. Duties of director

(1) publish, disseminate, and distribute informational and promotional materials;

(2) promote and encourage the coordination of Minnesota tourism promotion efforts with other state agencies and develop multiagency marketing strategies when appropriate;

(3) promote and encourage the expansion and development of international tourism marketing;

(4) advertise and disseminate information about Minnesota travel opportunities;

(5) aid various local communities to improve their tourism marketing programs;

(6) coordinate and implement a comprehensive state tourism marketing program that takes into consideration public and private businesses and attractions;

(7) contract, in accordance with section 16C.08, for professional services if the work or services cannot be satisfactorily performed by employees of the agency or by any other state agency;

(8) provide local, regional, and statewide tourism organizations with information, technical assistance, training, and advice on using state tourism programs; and

(9) generally gather, compile, and make available statistical information relating to Minnesota tourism and related areas in this state, with authority to call upon other state agencies for statistical data and results obtained by them and to arrange and compile that statistical information.

(1) apply for, receive, and spend money for tourism development and marketing from other agencies and tourism organizations and businesses;

(2) apply for, accept, and disburse grants and other aids for tourism development and marketing from the federal government and other sources;

(3) enter into joint powers or cooperative agreements with agencies of the federal government, local governmental units, regional development commissions, other state agencies, the University of Minnesota and other educational institutions, other states, Canadian provinces, local, statewide, and regional tourism organizations as necessary to perform the director's duties;

(4) enter into interagency agreements and agree to share net revenues with the contributing agencies;

(5) make grants;

(6) conduct market research and analysis to improve marketing techniques in the area of tourism;

(7) monitor and study trends in the tourism industry and provide resources and training to address change;

(8) annually convene conferences of Minnesota tourism providers for the purposes of exchanging information on tourism development, coordinating marketing activities, and formulating tourism development strategies; and

(9) enter into tourism promotion contracts or other agreements with private persons and public entities, including agreements to establish and maintain offices and other types of representation in foreign countries, to promote international travel and to implement this chapter.