They concluded that the best model for California was to be found within our state's agricultural industry which utilizes industry self-assessment to finance the marketing efforts of its agricultural marketing orders. Businesses that benefit from tourism voted in a statewide referendum in October of 1997 to approve a mandatory assessment of all similar businesses in order to fund a collective marketing program. These individuals were appointed with the recommendations of established industry associations. This committee included representatives from four industry categories. Bed and Breakfast inns, for example, are a segment within the accommodations category.
Many segments exist within each category.
The Tourism Selection Committee constructed the referendum. The California Trade and Commerce Agency, using a variety of sources, developed a list of California businesses that were potentially within one of the Business Segments authorized to be included by the Tourism Selection Committee. Each business was sent a form that registered them to vote, if they were eligible to participate and exempted them, if they were not. The Division of Tourism now operates under single management in tandem with the new private, non-profit corporation. The new private non-profit corporation, however, is separate from government with a board of directors comprised of travel industry professionals.