Presley was willing to step in and continue what Payne started, Moore said. His thinking and his ideas are very much in line with the museum's overall vision. Token for tourism The Wonders of Wildlife museum has been touted as a cornerstone piece of Springfield's tourism picture, complementing existing attractions such as Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World and Fantastic Caverns. November, when tourism in Springfield is at its lowest, said Tracy Kimberlin, executive director of the Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau. The museum is important to increasing Springfield's number of overnight visitors, he added.
Overnight tourism drives up the city's sales tax rate.
Springfield is dependent on the 1-cent sales tax to fund its operation and infrastructure needs. There is also the local room tax, a portion of which is captured to benefit the museum. The room tax will be one of the museum's major sources of revenue for its operation. Getting up to speed Officials agree that before the museum greets a single visitor, it must welcome a new leader. Presley, who has interviewed each member of the staff since taking over as interim director, said the staff is well-educated and the new director will benefit from that.