Near and Far

Tourism promotion is much more than a web site and a visitors guide. In past blogs I’ve talked about media events, trade show participation and a variety of other activities designed to encourage people to visit and to gain community support for tourism and its enormous impact on our local economy.

Here’s just a sampling of some of what is going on right now as we move into the Fall season.

For the first time in many years, we’re looking at new designs to update our display in the state capitol building in Sacramento. Anyone who has toured the capitol has seen the individual display windows for the county. It’s our silent representative if you will, to remind visitors about who we are and what we have to offer. Once the final decision is made as to the new display, I’ll share that with you.

We also take an active role in local community organizations and work with them as much as possible in promoting tourism. These include all the local chambers of commerce, the arts organizations and a variety of other community and business groups throughout the region. Nanci Sikes, our executive director has spoken to the Tuolumne County Business Council and the 49er Rotary Club in the past few weeks and will be addressing the Sonora Kiwanis Club on Sept 27.

As many of you know we participate in the monthly TC Chamber of Commerce Radio Program as well as an Internet Radio program on a regular basis. It provides more exposure for our area to local and distant audiences. I recently did an Internet radio show reaching an international audience talking about things to do here in the Fall.

Sandy Gordon, Marketing Director recently spent two days at the Mountain View Arts and Wine Festival where she gave out 1,000 visitor guides to potential visitors to our area. More such events are planned for the Fall season as well as some major industry trade shows that provide exposure to tour operators here in the US and in Europe.

Tourism is a very competitive business with many wonderful destinations competing for every tourist dollar. We’re pleased to see our efforts producing results and enticing more visitors from near and far to Yosemite and the Gold Rush Country.