PARKERSBURG - The Greater Parkersburg Convention and Visitors Bureau and local businesses are holding a new campaign to "Be a Tourist in Your Own Hometown" May 7-19 to raise awareness of the attractions, events and points of interest in the area.
The promotion is tied to National Tourism Week May 5-13.
Meeting with Wood County commissioners Monday, Steve Nicely, president of the CVB, said the bureau is offering a gift basket valued at more than $1,000 of regionally specialty products, shopping, lodging, restaurants, attraction tickets in conjunction with the local campaign. The winner will be drawn May 23. Entries will be accepted through May 19.
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Steve Nicely, president of the Greater Parkersburg Convention and Visitors Bureau, said the bureau is holding “Be a Tourist in Your Own Hometown” campaign to promote the local area.
"Oftentimes you miss what's right in your own backyard," said Nicely. "We are encouraging those who live and work in the region to enjoy and support all of our entertaining and affordable attractions this summer. Our hope is residents of greater Parkersburg will not just visit these sites themselves, but also invite their friends and relatives to visit too."
"There are more than 1,000 jobs locally directly linked to tourism. Locally, tourists spend more than $105 million annually," said Mark Lewis, president-elect of the CVB.
Nicely said leading forecasters are saying the news for tourism is looking good for the year ahead.
Fact Box
Tourism Information
The Greater Parkersburg Convention and Visitors Bureau and local businesses are holding a new campaign to "Be a Tourist in Your Own Hometown," May 7-19 to raise awareness of the many attractions, events and points of interest in the area.
National Tourism Week is May 5-13.
For more information about Parkersburg area attractions, events and other activities, visit www.greaterparkersburg.com or call 304-428-1130.
"The number of room nights through the month of April is up 10.9 percent, hotel occupancy is up 4.5 percent, inquiries and walk-ins at the visitor's center here are up," Nicely said. He noted revenues raised by the hotel occupancy tax through February is up by almost 15 percent. "That includes all the hotel revenue collected, from the hotels in the county and cities," he said.
Nicely said nationally predictions are for a good year, with money to spend on tourism up, according to surveys.
"This information is significant for us because we use this research when we are determining what we do, how we do it, and when we do it," Nicely said.
Travel and tourism is one of the nation's largest industries with $740 billion in direct travel expenditures by domestic and international travelers. The industry also represents one of America's largest employers with 7.7 million direct travel-generated jobs and $189 billion in travel-generated payroll.
National Travel and Tourism Week was designated by Congress and established by presidential proclamation in 1983.
Entry signups for the gift basket are available at the Wood County Courthouse, CVB Visitor Center, Blennerhassett Museum, Campus Martius Museum, DaVinci's restaurant, Hampton Inn, Mineral Wells Holiday Inn Express, Mangnuson Hotel, Mingo Bottom Golf Club, North Bend State Park, S&P Harley Davidson, Turquoise Spirit and Woodcraft.
For more information about Greater Parkersburg attractions, events and other activities, visit www.greaterparkersburg.com or call 304-428-1130.
