Tourism Had a Good Year
I recently attended an Indiana Tourism Council meeting in Indianapolis. Don Walsh, President and CEO of the Indianapolis Convention and Visitors Association, was the meeting host. Don opened the meeting with the question, “who hopes to have more fun in 2010 than 2009?” He received a unanimous positive response from the room full of travel and hospitality professionals. The question was a good natured way of encouraging everyone to remember that there is light at the end of the tunnel for an industry that has had a tough couple of years.
The tourism industry,like most sectors of the economy, has taken a hit, but even in times of challenge there is growth. As the Tourism Council meeting progressed many of the 2009 bright spots from around the state surfaced. Fort Wayne reported that the Children’s Zoo posted record attendance of 600,000 visitors in 2009. Traffic at the Fair Oaks Dairy mega farm on I-65 was up 15 percent and the DNR reported a 10 percent increase in State Park visitation. Another positive indicator for Indiana’s tourism industry is the $5 million gift from the principals of White Lodging to Purdue University, Calumet, to grow the tourism and hospitality program there. The move indicates expectations of an increase in demand for lodging and hospitality managers.
Grant County has some bright spots of our own to add to the 2009 tourism industry highlights. The Marion Classic was added to USA Cycling’s elite National Racing Circuit this year. Indiana Wesleyan University secured a three year contract for the NAIA Track and Field meet. The Boom Town 1892 event was launched in June, and Gas City is further capitalizing on the community’s amazing heritage with an ambitious Main Street improvement project and restoration of the historically significant Thompson Ray House.
Most of us are probably looking forward to having more fun in 2010 than we had in 2009, but as we look back on the year we can be proud of the accomplishments made in Grant County.
